National Competition Authorities Soon To Be Empowered

The European Commission recently published a draft directive to grant greater enforcement powers to national competition authorities (NCAs). NCAs and courts apply the EU competition rules within their jurisdictions on the basis of Regulation 1/2003. To ensure the consistent application of these rules, the European Commission and the 28 national competition authorities of the EU work together in the European Competition Network. However, not all NCAs currently have the same enforcement powers. The draft directive aims to address this problem. Companies should therefore be prepared for an increase in competition enforcement by NCAs, including a more extensive enforcement toolbox, a uniform maximum fine level for EU competition law infringements, and a common set of leniency conditions.