Documents

Commission Notice on cooperation within the Network of Competition Authorities

Joint Statement of the Council and the Commission on the Functioning of the Network of Competition Authorities en da de es el it fi fr nl pt sv 

Directive 2019/1 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 to empower the competition authorities of the Member States to be more effective enforcers and to ensure the proper functioning of the internal market (Text with EEA relevance.) OJ L 11, 14.1.2019, p. 3–33

Practical information on the implementation of the Guidance on the application of the referral mechanism set out in Article 22 of the Merger Regulation to certain categories of cases

• ECN Recommendation on Investigative Powers, Enforcement Measures and Sanctions in the context of Inspections and Requests for Information
• ECN Recommendation on the Power to Collect Digital Evidence, including by Forensic Means
• ECN Recommendation on Assistance in Inspections conducted under Articles 22(1) of Regulation(EC) No 1/2003
• ECN Recommendation on the Power to set Priorities
• ECN Recommendation on Interim Measures
• ECN Recommendation on Commitment Procedures
• ECN Recommendation on the Power to Impose Structural Remedies

The following reports provide an overview of the different systems and procedures for antitrust investigations within the ECN (31 October 2012).

• Investigative Powers Report
• Decision-making Powers Report

See also Results of the questionnaire on the reform of Member States (MS) national competition laws after EC Regulation No. 1/2003 (update 22 May 2013)

• The reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (21 December 2012) 
• Protection of leniency material in the context of civil damages actions (23 May 2012)
• Competition authorities in the European Union – the continued need for effective institutions (16 November 2010) 
• The recommendation of the High Level Group on Milk aimed at improving the bargaining power of dairy farms (17 November 2010) 

21 March 2022

Antitrust: Joint statement by the European Competition Network (ECN) on the application of competition law in the context of the war in Ukraine

9 July 2020

Statement on ACM public consultation on sustainability guidelines

The European Commission takes note of the public consultation launched by the Dutch Competition Authority (“ACM”) on 9 July 2020, on its revised draft Guidelines on Sustainability agreements. The Commission fully supports the need for clear guidance on agreements aiming at reducing greenhouse gas emissions that would be compatible with competition law.

The aim of ACM’s the revision of the draft Guidelines on Sustainability agreements is to ensure that the competition rules do not stand in the way of agreements aiming at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. With this consultation, ACM is seeking the public’s view on its proposed approach including an interpretation of Article 101(3) of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and its Dutch equivalent (Article 6(3) of the Dutch Competition Act) that would enable the ACM to balance any negative effects of anti-competitive behaviour for the consumers concerned (e.g. a price increase) against benefits incurred by the resulting reduction of greenhouse gas emissions – not only for the consumers buying the relevant products but also for the society as a whole.

The European Commission is currently looking into the same issues as part of the review of the two Horizontal Block Exemption Regulations and the Horizontal Co-operation Guidelines. In particular, the Commission, in line with the Commission’s Better Regulation requirements, ran a public consultation inviting stakeholders to comment on, amongst other things, the efficiency, effectiveness and relevance of the current regulations and the accompanying guidelines on horizontal co-operation agreements. In the framework of this review, some stakeholders have expressed similar views about the need to provide guidance on agreements on sustainability issues (including environmental issues). Contributions to the public consultation, together with a factual summary have been published on DG Competition’s website. The Commission will continue its reflections on these issues, both with external stakeholders and within the European Competition Network (ECN), to provide further clarity and arrive at a uniform approach.

The European Green Deal is our roadmap for making the EU's economy sustainable. We can achieve this by turning climate and environmental challenges into opportunities across all policy areas, including competition policy, and making the transition just and inclusive for all.

23 March 2020

Antitrust: Joint statement by the European competition authorities on the Corona crisis

06 April 2017 - Online hotel booking sector

Report on the monitoring exercise carried out in the online hotel booking sector by EU competition authorities in 2016

24 May 2014 – Food sector

The economic impact of modern retail on choice and innovation in the EU food sector Drafted by the ECN Subgroup Food

24^th May 2012 – Food Sector

ECN Subgroup Food: ECN Activities in the Food Sector – Report on competition law enforcement and market monitoring activities by European competition authorities in the food sector. Drafted by the ECN Subgroup Food

20^th March 2012 – payments sector

Information Paper on Competition Enforcement in the Payments Sector Drafted by the ECN subgroup Banking and Payments

November 2012

ECN Model Leniency Programme: 2012 revision

• Annex: Template for submission of a summary leniency application within the ECN
• About the 2012 revision (Memo)
• Frequently asked questions
• List of National Competition Authorities which operate a Leniency programme (Updated on 22 November 2012)
• List of National Competition Authorities accepting summary applications and applicable language regime for summary applications

September 2006

2006 ECN Model Leniency Programme en fr de 

The ECN Model Leniency Programme, endorsed in 2006, has been a major catalyst in encouraging ECN members to introduce leniency programmes and in promoting convergence between them. The 2012 revision introduced a range of refinements to this Model Programme (see above).

• Frequently asked questions
• ECN Model Leniency Programme: Report on the Assessment of the State of Convergence
  Annex 1: list of applicable leniency programmes
  List of National Competition Authorities which accept summary applications
  About the Report (MEMO/09/456)