A PYMNTS Company

EU: EC proposes to make national competition authorities even more effective enforcers

By  |  March 22, 2017

EU antitrust regulators outlined a proposal on Wednesday aimed at giving national watchdogs in the 28-country bloc more power to crack down on anti-competitive practices and also ward off political interference.

    Get the Full Story

    Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

    yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    The move by the European Commission came after a study it commissioned found shortcomings in the way competition agencies were equipped and structured, preventing them from doing their work effectively.

    We’d love to be your preferred source for news.

    Please add us to your preferred sources list so our news, data and interviews show up in your feed. Thanks!

    Add as Preferred Source

    Antitrust experts say the EU enforcer was also concerned by the ousting of several high level officials at some national agencies by their governments in the last two years.

    “We want all national competition authorities to be able to take decisions fully independently and have effective tools at their disposal to stop and sanction infringements,” European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in a statement.

    The proposal also aims to ensure that national agencies have the necessary funding and staff, and the right to search mobile phones, laptops and tablets for evidence of wrongdoing.

    The Commission’s study showed that Austria, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Sweden and Slovakia, for example, have limited powers in this respect.

    Full Content: Europa

    Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.