Vice President Cyril Hariton Speaks at Global Competition Law Centre Lunch Talk on Booking and eTraveli
Event:Lessons from the European Union General Court Judgement on Booking’s Acquisition of eTraveli
Date:
September 14, 2026
Host:
Global Competition Law Centre
Location:
Brussels, Belgium
Analysis Group Vice President Cyril Hariton will join Marion Bailly (DG COMP) to discuss the European Union (EU) General Court’s decision on Booking Holdings’ acquisition of eTraveli, published on September 9. The judgement follows the European Commission’s prohibition of the acquisition in 2023 due to concerns over the transaction’s impact on Booking’s “dominant position” in the online travel agency (OTA) market and the expansion of its “ecosystem” of services (see the EC’s press release). Dr. Hariton will offer an independent perspective on the economic arguments raised in the judgement and potential implications for merger control in Europe, pending the upcoming revised EU Merger Guidelines.
The talk will be moderated by antitrust lawyer Vanessa Turner (O’Melveny & Myers) and hosted by the Global Competition Law Centre (GCLC) of the College of Europe.