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ARTICLE · 14 AUGUST 2014

Commission Publishes Communication On Past And Future Of EU Antitrust Enforcement

Van Bael & Bellis
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On 9 July 2014, the European Commission published a Communication which reviews the operation of Regulation 1/2003.

European UnionAntitrust/Competition Law
Martin Favart
Martin Favart
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On 9 July 2014, the European Commission published a Communication which reviews the operation of Regulation 1/2003 and lays out areas where progress will be needed in the future. The Commission is seeking, in particular, to identify areas for action to enhance the enforcement of EU antitrust rules by national competition authorities ("NCAs").

The Communication is also accompanied by two working documents which deal, in greater detail, with the antitrust enforcement of the Commission and NCAs over the past decade as well as institutional and procedural issues in enhancing the role of the NCAs.

Regulation 1/2003 had introduced a number of important changes to the enforcement of EU competition rules. In particular, the Commission's powers of investigation into suspected infringements of competition law were enhanced. In addition, a new framework for greater cooperation between the Commission and the NCAs was introduced.

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