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The Dutch Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by Heineken and its Greek subsidiary, Athenian Brewery, in a long-running competition damages case brought by Greek brewer Macedonian Thrace Brewery (MTB).

The ruling relates to a claim filed by MTB, producer of the Vergina beer brand, following a 2015 decision by the Hellenic Competition Commission. The competition authority found that Athenian Brewery had abused its dominant position in the Greek beer market for at least 16 years in a manner that excluded competitors, including MTB.

Throughout the proceedings, Heineken and Athenian Brewery challenged whether the Dutch courts had jurisdiction to hear claims against the Greek subsidiary. They argued that allegations relating to conduct in Greece should not be considered by courts in the Netherlands.

However, the Dutch Supreme Court upheld earlier decisions accepting Dutch jurisdiction over the claims. The judgment follows a referral to the European Court of Justice, which issued a preliminary ruling in February 2025.

In February, the Amsterdam District Court indicated that MTB could be awarded at least €43 million in damages, excluding interest and additional costs, after accepting the brewer's methodology for calculating losses.

The latest decision clears the way for the main proceedings to continue before the Amsterdam District Court, which is expected to issue a final ruling on damages later this summer.