Looking Inside the Blackbox: Competence Allocation in EU Competition Policy from an Actor-Centred Perspective

This chapter assesses the role of fundamental rights in EU competition enforcement. EU competition policy comprises a number of limbs, each with its own peculiarities and rules but together contributing to the objective of protecting (relatively) undistorted competition in the Union's internal market. The key reason why EU competition policy is an interesting and important case study from the point of view of fundamental rights application is enforcement. Unlike in other areas, the EU, in particular the European Commission, wields considerable powers when it comes to the protection of undistorted competition in the internal market. Although the extent of the enforcement powers and their potential impact on fundamental rights differs between the various aspects of competition policy, the field as a whole embodies supranational authority as almost none other. This is so despite the fact that in enforcing competition law the Commission cooperates closely with national competition authorities (NCAs) as part of the European Competition Network (ECN) and that the majority of decisions applying EU antitrust rules are taken by the NCAs.

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10. An Introduction to EU Competition Policy and Law

Foster on EU Law ◽

10.1093/he/9780198727590.003.0010 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 356-397

Author(s):

Nigel Foster Frsa

Keyword(s):

Competition Policy ◽

Eu Competition Policy

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10. Horizontal Cooperation Agreements

Jones & Sufrin's EU Competition Law ◽

10.1093/he/9780198824657.003.0010 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 703-735

Author(s):

Alison Jones ◽

Brenda Sufrin ◽

Niamh Dunne

Keyword(s):

Research And Development ◽

Joint Ventures ◽

Competition Policy ◽

Horizontal Cooperation ◽

Sports Events ◽

Eu Competition Policy ◽

Block Exemption

This chapter discusses EU competition policy towards horizontal cooperation agreements. It covers joint ventures; the contents of the 2010 Guidelines; the general approach to horizontal cooperation agreements in the Guidelines; information agreements; research and development agreements, including the block emption, Regulation 1217/2010; production agreements, including the block exemption on specialisation agreements, Regulation 1218/2010 ; purchasing agreements; commercialisation agreements; standardisation agreements; and agreements in particular sectors, such as the joint buying or selling of media rights to sports events.

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