The European Commission has opened a formal investigation into Renfe, the Spanish state-owned rail operator, over concerns that it may be engaging in anticompetitive practices by refusing to provide full content and real-time data to rival ticketing platforms. This investigation focuses on the online distribution of passenger rail tickets, where Renfe competes with third-party platforms that require access to its data to effectively serve customers.

Renfe operates both directly through its own websites and apps, as well as indirectly via third-party ticketing platforms. The Commission's preliminary findings suggest that Renfe holds a dominant position in both the passenger rail transport services market and the online distribution of rail tickets. The refusal to share essential data may hinder competition and innovation among third-party ticketing services.

In response to these concerns, Renfe has proposed commitments that would remain in effect indefinitely, with oversight from a monitoring trustee for a period of ten years. The Commission is inviting comments from interested parties on these commitments, which could lead to a legally binding decision if deemed satisfactory.

Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union prohibits the abuse of a dominant market position, and the Commission's investigation is part of its broader enforcement of EU antitrust regulations. If Renfe fails to comply with the commitments, it could face fines of up to 10% of its global turnover.