Latest news with #ECJ
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
European hotels sue Booking.com over pricing rules
Hotel associations from more than 25 European countries have initiated a large-scale legal case against online travel platform challenging its use of rate parity clauses that allegedly restricted competition and inflated commission fees. The coordinated lawsuit follows a recent ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) that deemed such clauses unlawful under EU competition law. Since the early 2000s, enforced contractual terms known as rate parity clauses. These provisions prevented hotels from offering lower prices on their own websites or other distribution channels, effectively forcing them to maintain uniform pricing on the platform. Hotels argue this practice limited their autonomy, raised operational costs through higher commissions, and suppressed price competition. The ECJ ruling on 19 September 2024 confirmed that these clauses breached European competition regulations by restricting fair competition and disadvantaging smaller independent hotels. The court found that policies hindered pricing transparency and consumer choice, setting the stage for collective legal action. The lawsuit involves national hotel associations from Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland. This broad coalition reflects the extensive impact of the platform's pricing practices across the continent. A dedicated legal body has been established to coordinate the claims, with the Netherlands chosen as the jurisdiction for the centralised proceedings. Eligible hotels that paid commissions to between 2004 and 2024 can join the collective action by registering through a streamlined legal platform. The process aims to reduce litigation costs and facilitate compensation claims for overpaid commission fees plus accrued interest. This legal action highlights growing concerns over the market power of online travel agencies and digital platforms in the hospitality sector. By challenging restrictive pricing clauses, hotels seek to regain control over their pricing strategies and improve competitiveness. Industry representatives emphasise that fair competition among booking channels benefits both consumers and service providers by promoting transparency and innovation. The ECJ decision and subsequent lawsuit may influence other digital marketplaces employing similar pricing restrictions. Regulators across Europe are increasingly scrutinising platform practices to ensure compliance with competition laws and to foster a more balanced digital economy. As the European hospitality industry recovers from recent disruptions, the outcome of this case could set a significant precedent. It underscores the importance of protecting independent businesses against anti-competitive agreements and ensuring fair conditions in online hotel booking markets. "European hotels sue over pricing rules" was originally created and published by Hotel Management Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
European hotels sue Booking.com over pricing rules
Hotel associations from more than 25 European countries have initiated a large-scale legal case against online travel platform challenging its use of rate parity clauses that allegedly restricted competition and inflated commission fees. The coordinated lawsuit follows a recent ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) that deemed such clauses unlawful under EU competition law. Since the early 2000s, enforced contractual terms known as rate parity clauses. These provisions prevented hotels from offering lower prices on their own websites or other distribution channels, effectively forcing them to maintain uniform pricing on the platform. Hotels argue this practice limited their autonomy, raised operational costs through higher commissions, and suppressed price competition. The ECJ ruling on 19 September 2024 confirmed that these clauses breached European competition regulations by restricting fair competition and disadvantaging smaller independent hotels. The court found that policies hindered pricing transparency and consumer choice, setting the stage for collective legal action. The lawsuit involves national hotel associations from Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland. This broad coalition reflects the extensive impact of the platform's pricing practices across the continent. A dedicated legal body has been established to coordinate the claims, with the Netherlands chosen as the jurisdiction for the centralised proceedings. Eligible hotels that paid commissions to between 2004 and 2024 can join the collective action by registering through a streamlined legal platform. The process aims to reduce litigation costs and facilitate compensation claims for overpaid commission fees plus accrued interest. This legal action highlights growing concerns over the market power of online travel agencies and digital platforms in the hospitality sector. By challenging restrictive pricing clauses, hotels seek to regain control over their pricing strategies and improve competitiveness. Industry representatives emphasise that fair competition among booking channels benefits both consumers and service providers by promoting transparency and innovation. The ECJ decision and subsequent lawsuit may influence other digital marketplaces employing similar pricing restrictions. Regulators across Europe are increasingly scrutinising platform practices to ensure compliance with competition laws and to foster a more balanced digital economy. As the European hospitality industry recovers from recent disruptions, the outcome of this case could set a significant precedent. It underscores the importance of protecting independent businesses against anti-competitive agreements and ensuring fair conditions in online hotel booking markets. "European hotels sue over pricing rules" was originally created and published by Hotel Management Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Jute industry pins hope on June 3 ECJ meet amid supply crunch, soaring prices
(You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Centre's Expert Committee on Jute (ECJ) will meet in Kolkata on June 3 to review the raw jute and mesta supply situation , even as the industry struggles with high prices, delayed crop arrivals, and low availability. The committee, under the Ministry of Textiles , will assess the 2024-25 supply-demand scenario and discuss the outlook for the 2025-26 crop of the golden fibre. Officials from the Jute division, National Jute Board, Agriculture Ministry and other stakeholders will attend the official estimates suggest sufficient availability with 73 lakh bales of production, 5 lakh bales of imports, and 23 lakh bales of carryover stock, actual supplies remain tight due to hoarding, jute mill officials said. Consumption stands at around 70 to 72 lakh bales."A delayed monsoon in key jute-growing areas like Murshidabad, Nadia, and Goalpara has pushed back sowing, and fresh arrivals may not come before September. This could cause a supply gap in July and August. Prices have already shot up to Rs 6,800-7,200 per quintal, much higher than the MSP of Rs 5,650," former Indian Jute Mills Association chairman Sanjay Kajaria this, the Jute Commissioner's Office (JCO) has failed to activate any buffer release mechanism or take action against hoarding and speculative withholding, jute mills complained. Mills, particularly in North Bengal, are running only 4 to 5 days a week due to rising input costs and procurement challenges, Kajaria said. A mill owner said that they are struggling to pay wages and meet statutory industry is looking to the ECJ meeting for urgent steps such as buffer stock release, action against hoarding, and strict MSP enforcement to stabilise the market.
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Business Standard
25-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Jute industry eyes ECJ meet on June 3 amid tight supply, high prices
The Centre's Expert Committee on Jute (ECJ) is scheduled to convene in Kolkata on 3 June to evaluate the supply situation of raw jute and mesta, amid rising prices, delayed crop arrivals, and reduced availability that have strained the industry, PTI reported. Formed under the Ministry of Textiles, the committee will assess the 2024–25 supply-demand scenario and discuss the outlook for the 2025–26 crop of the golden fibre. Representatives from the Jute Division, National Jute Board, Ministry of Agriculture, and other stakeholders are expected to attend. While official figures indicate a comfortable position — with production estimated at 73 lakh bales, imports at 5 lakh bales, and a carryover stock of 23 lakh bales — actual market availability is reportedly tight, with mill officials attributing the shortage to hoarding. Industry consumption is pegged at around 70–72 lakh bales. 'A delayed monsoon in key jute-growing areas like Murshidabad, Nadia, and Goalpara has pushed back sowing, and fresh arrivals may not come before September. This could cause a supply gap in July and August. Prices have already shot up to Rs 6,800–7,200 per quintal, much higher than the MSP of Rs 5,650,' former Indian Jute Mills Association chairman Sanjay Kajaria said. Despite this, the Jute Commissioner's Office (JCO) has failed to activate any buffer release mechanism or take action against hoarding and speculative withholding, jute mills complained. Many mills, especially in North Bengal, are reportedly operating only four to five days a week due to escalating costs and raw material procurement issues, Kajaria said. Some owners have expressed difficulties in meeting wage and statutory obligations. The industry is hoping the ECJ meeting will lead to prompt interventions — including buffer stock release, measures to curb hoarding, and stricter enforcement of the MSP — to stabilise the market and ensure continued operations. (With PTI inputs)
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Jute industry eyes June 3 ECJ meet for relief amid supply crunch and soaring prices
The jute industry is pinning its hopes on the upcoming Expert Committee on Jute (ECJ) meeting, scheduled for June 3 in Kolkata, as it grapples with high raw jute prices, delayed crop arrivals, and tight supply conditions. The ECJ, under the Ministry of Textiles, will review the raw jute and mesta supply-demand situation for 2024–25 and also assess prospects for the 2025–26 crop. The meeting will bring together officials from the Jute Division, National Jute Board, Ministry of Agriculture, and other key stakeholders. While official estimates suggest there should be adequate availability—73 lakh bales of production, 5 lakh bales of imports, and 23 lakh bales of carryover stock—industry sources claim actual supplies are tight, largely due to hoarding. Jute mill officials said current annual consumption stands at approximately 70 to 72 lakh bales. 'A delayed monsoon in key jute-growing areas like Murshidabad, Nadia, and Goalpara has pushed back sowing, and fresh arrivals may not come before September. This could cause a supply gap in July and August. Prices have already shot up to Rs 6,800–7,200 per quintal, much higher than the MSP of Rs 5,650,' said Sanjay Kajaria, former chairman of the Indian Jute Mills Association, quoted PTI. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Despite rising concerns, industry players allege that the Jute Commissioner's Office (JCO) has failed to implement a buffer stock release or take measures against hoarding and speculative withholding of raw jute. Mills, particularly in North Bengal, are facing operational strain, with many running only 4 to 5 days a week due to procurement challenges and escalating input costs. A mill owner, requesting anonymity, said that the situation has become so severe that they are struggling to pay wages and meet statutory obligations. The jute sector is looking to the ECJ meeting for concrete interventions, including the release of buffer stocks, strict action against hoarding, and effective enforcement of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) to stabilise market conditions. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
