EU: Will the Commission boost enforcement powers of national competition authorities?

In a press released on Wednesday, the Commission invited public consultation on wether or not to boost enforcement powers of the national competition authorities. Read release below:

The Commission invites the general public and stakeholders to share their experience and provide feedback on potential EU legislative actions to further strengthen the enforcement and sanctioning tools of national competition authorities.

EU Commissioner in charge of competition policy, Margrethe Vestager said: “The EU antitrust rules serve European citizens and businesses by contributing to the right conditions for economic growth. For over ten years, national competition authorities have played a key role in enforcing EU antitrust rules alongside the Commission. Thanks to this cooperation at EU and national levels, competition rules have been applied more thoroughly and effectively than would otherwise have been possible. We are now taking stock to see if we can further improve the toolbox of national competition authorities. I would like to hear the views of all those interested to find the best way forward”.

The entry into force of Regulation 1/2003in 2004 transformed the competition enforcement landscape, giving national competition authorities and national courts a key role in applying the EU rules on restrictive business practices and abuses of dominant market positions (Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union – TFEU). EU competition rules are now being applied on a scale that the Commission could never have achieved on its own. This is a significant contribution to a level playing field for companies operating in the Single Market and essential to drive economic growth.

Full content: European Commission

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