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EU: Officials adopt landmark antitrust damages directive

By  |  November 10, 2014

The European Council of Ministers adopted a landmark proposal Monday that aims to facilitate the recovery of damages by individuals and companies harmed by anticompetitive conduct.

As one of former European Commissioner competition chief Joaquin Almunia’s top priorities, the Directive on antitrust damages actions was proposed by the watchdog to help victims of cartels and antitrust violators to claim damages from the conduct. Among its key features is to make it easier for those individuals to access evidence necessary to claim those damages, reports say.

The Commission says the Directive will allow more effective antitrust enforcement and boost the appeal of leniency and settlement programs.

The European Parliament approved a revised version of the Directive last April; Parliament is expected to formally sign the new regulations at the end of the month.

EU member states will have two years to implement the new rules, reports say.

Full content: RTT News

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