The International Dimension Of Eu Competition Law And Policy

Modern competition law was first employed by countries over one hundred years ago in order to address issues relating to restrictions of trade at the national level. Recent international economic integration has weakened the distinction between the domestic and the international in several fields of economic activity, and consequently the laws which regulate such activity, competition law included. Several attempts to address the paradox of adopting national competition rules to address international issues have been made at the international, regional and (lately) bilateral levels. This book discusses the international dimension of EU competition law, and examines the position taken by the EU in four distinct categories of international agreements which are devoted to competition or include competition provisions. In particular, it analyses the EU's position with regard to bilateral enforcement cooperation agreements, bilateral free trade agreements, plurilateral-regional agreements and the long negotiations for the adoption of a multilateral competition regime.

This thorough appraisal of competition law and policy from an international and comparative perspective covers the role of different international organisations active in the area, the significance of multinational enterprises and, in particular, the differences between US and EU systems. Taking examples from regions such as Africa, the Middle East and Asia, Maher M. Dabbah looks at the law and policy in developing countries and at a regional level, the internationalisation of competition law and the doctrines of extraterritoriality, bilateral cooperation and multilateral cooperation as well as the relationship between competition and trade policy. The book should prove useful to anyone who is interested in gaining an insight into the international dimension of competition law and policy. It is written in a language and style which make such a complex topic both possible to understand and enjoyable.

The Future of International Competition Law Enforcement undertakes an original assessment of the EU's international cooperation agreements in the field of competition law and is uniquely focused on the bilateral sphere, often labelled as a mere 'interim-solution' awaiting a global agreement.

This clear and concise textbook presents EU competition law in political, economic and comparative context. It combines excerpts from key EU rulings with discussions of enforcement policy issues and comparisons with US antitrust cases. Untangling the complex set of factors driving individual outcomes, it is the perfect companion for any student or practitioner in the field.Successive chapters explore the tools used by competition authorities in Europe: to punish cartels that fix prices or divide markets; assess cooperative agreements between rival firms and supplier-customer relationships; to establish a dominant position and find abuses; and review the competitive effects of mergers and acquisitions. The book also explains how authorities determine when business restraints infringe on the principles governing the EU internal market, and when Member States contravene the rules protecting the European competition system including by means of subsidies known as State aids.More than a reference tool, this innovative book provides a rounded account of the various dimensions of EU competition law, of its place at the heart of the EU market integration project and of its relevance for the enforcement of antitrust principles worldwide.Key features:* provides a clear, concise and up-to-date presentation of the law* includes important excerpts from all seminal competition decisions and judgements of the European Commission and the EU Courts* explains the critical nuances of cases by means of contextual notes and questions* integrates law, economics and other policies, providing a holistic sense of competition law and its place in the European system * compares EU competition law with US antitrust law, analysing the root of their differences and enabling the reader to derive comparative insights* supports general and advanced EU and international competition law courses.

This is the first book ever to assess comprehensively the impact of EU international agreements on services of general interest. Services of general interest remain high on the political and legal agenda of the European Union. However, the debates about the impact of EU law on services of general interest usually focus on internal market law such as the free movement of services, competition law, state aid rules and the law of public procurement. The external and international dimensions of the European legal framework for services of general interest are often overlooked. This book addresses the impact of international trade and investment agreements on public services and the role these services play in EU external relations. It shows that the inherent tension between establishing and securing undistorted competition on markets and the logic of public services exists in international economic law in a similar way as in EU internal law. Given the contentiousness of international trade and investment agreements as well as the EU’s external policies, the issues discussed in this volume are timely and relevant and contribute to the ongoing debate about the future of services of general interest in the EU with fresh ideas and perspectives. Markus Krajewski is Professor of Public and International Law at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany.

Seminar paper from the year 2004 in the subject Law - European and International Law, Intellectual Properties, grade: 1,0 (A), Leeds Metropolitan University, course: EU Policy and Business, language: English, abstract: Competition between companies, governments and states within and across the global trading areas1 has become a vital part in this new world of less political and economical boundaries. Competition law therefore has to regulate the market powers of those who participate in the global exchange of goods and services. “There are now at least 80 systems of competition law in the world, in all continents and in all types of economies; many others are in contemplation.[...]”2. It has a substantial impact upon the outline of agreements. With Articles 81 and 82 of the EEC Treaty EU jurisprudence and the legislative bodies of the Member States (MMS) have a basis to work on this topic of immense importance. Ignoring the competition rules not seldom lead to large fines being levied by the European Commission (in July 1991 Tetra Pak was fined because of competition law infringement with a record sum of ₤52mn)3. The aim of this essay is to briefly outline the scope of EU ́s competition policy and laws and to give an insight into both the Agreements of Minor Importance (“de Minimis”) and the impact of Competition Law on the topic of parallel (grey) imports. The latter is examined on a case study given. The basis of this essay consists of secondary literature taken from books, treaties, articles, notices or webpages. A full bibliography can be found at the end of the main part.

A critical examination of the establishment and evolution of European competition law and policy, this volume unveils the history of European economic, and political, integration through a study of the foundations and development of its antitrust law.

No branch of European law has been as subject to expansion and change as competition law. Between the enormous forces of globalisation, technology, and EU enlargement, the Commission and national competition authorities have been compelled to keep rethinking their practices and procedures and issuing new regulations. Now, in the wake of its highly acclaimed predecessors, the new Third Edition of European Competition Law offers the practitioner everything required to act in accordance with the latest developments in the field. Along with the thorough guide to continuing practice that its readers have come to expect, European Competition Law in its Third Edition fully covers such areas as the following: the Commission's new assessment of distribution practices and vertical restraints, in particular the block exemptions granted by Regulations 2790/1999 and 1400/2002; procedure before national competition authorities and national courts for enforcement of European rules under Regulation 1/2003; the new Merger Control Regulation in force as of 1 May 2004; the new Transfer of Technology Regulation; and, the increased fines for hard-core cartel practices or abuse of dominant market position. The Third Edition is remarkable in that it actually previews the substantive and procedural rules that will be coming into effect during 2004 and subsequent years. And, like prior editions, the work has no peer in its coverage of past administrative practice and the case law of the Court of Justice. All in all, European Competition Law, Third Edition, will be of immeasurable value to practitioners who need to keep informed about how EC competition laws are applied, so they can continue to render practical, meaningful advice to firms whose agreements, transactions and conduct in the marketplace are governed by competition rules.