2023 Belgian Competition Law Round-Up

Introduction

2023 began with the end of Jacques Steenbergen's mandate as president of the Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) on 31 January 2023, after 15 years as the head of the BCA. Unfortunately, at the end of 2023 the new BCA president has still to be appointed as no agreement has been reached between the government's coalition parties concerning his successor. However, the authority has been able to significantly increase its manpower and its formal and informal enforcement tools following the implementation of the ECN+ Directive in 2022 and the important increase in its budget. The Prosecutor's office has been restructured and reinvigorated under the leadership of the new Prosecutor General, Damien Gerard, and has used all its enforcement tools, including for the first time its power to request ex officio interim measures. In particular, there have been notable actions taken in the telecommunications, pharmaceutical, agrifood and banking sectors. The BCA has