Early evidence suggests a web of arrangements detrimental to motorists

The Italian Competition Authority, at its meeting on 5 December 2007, decided to extend the investigation against ANAS, Società Strada dei Parchi and Società Autostrada Tirrenica, begun on 20 September into their possible abuse of a dominant position in motorway assistance, to include Autostrade per l’Italia.

The Authority also decided to check whether the anti-competitive arrangement alleged in the same investigation against ACI Global and Europ Assistance VAI over the fixing of charges for breakdown assistance services also involves Autostrade, ANAS and Aiscat. The picture that emerges from early evidence seems to indicate a web of arrangements among AISCAT, Autostrade per l’Italia and ANAS and between them and the companies ACI Global and Europ Assistance S.p.A. intended to share and define in a concerted manner all the main aspects of breakdown services so as to impede potential competition and maximize the profits of the motorway operators and the breakdown companies, to the detriment of the end user.

This decision was made in the light of the documentation gathered during the course of the inspections that have so far been carried out.


Rome, 10 December 2007