European Union

• Pages: 1-153

CHAPTER 7

EUROPEAN UNION

E

uropean Union-3

CONTENTS

A.Overview .............................................................................................................. 7

1.General Policies Underlying Competition Laws ......................................... 7

a.Introduction ......................................................................................... 7

b.Principal Objectives ............................................................................ 9

c.Role of Economic Doctrines and Analysis ....................................... 10

2.Overview of Applicable Statutes ............................................................... 14

a.Abolition of Notification System ...................................................... 15

b.Relinquishment of the

Commission’s Exemption Monopoly ............................................... 15

c.Primacy of EU Law .......................................................................... 16

d.Importance of the Interstate Commerce Requirement ...................... 17

3.Overview of Structure, Independence,

and Jurisdiction of Enforcement Agencies ................................................ 18

a.Structure of the European Commission ............................................ 18

b.Jurisdiction ........................................................................................ 19

c.Proceedings before the Commission ................................................. 19

4.Overview of Structure, Independence,

and Jurisdiction of EU Courts ................................................................... 21

a.Introduction ....................................................................................... 21

b.Structure and Jurisdiction of Courts ................................................. 22

c.Intensity of the GC’s Review

of the Commission’s Factual Findings ........................................... 23

5.Additional Policy and Practical Considerations ........................................ 26

B.Substantive Law ................................................................................................. 29

1.Introduction ............................................................................................... 29

2.Market Definition ...................................................................................... 30

a.Product Markets ................................................................................ 31

b.Innovation Markets ........................................................................... 32

c.Geographic Markets .......................................................................... 33

3.Definition of Undertaking ......................................................................... 34

4.Definition of Agreement ........................................................................... 34

5.Effect on Trade between Member States ................................................... 37

6.Horizontal Agreements and Practices ....................................................... 38

a.Cartel Enforcement ........................................................................... 38

(1)Agreements Covered ................................................................ 40

(2)Examples of EU Treatment

of Cartel-Type Conduct ............................................................ 41

(a)Price Fixing ....................................................................... 41

(b)Market Sharing and Territorial

or Customer Allocation .................................................... 42

(c)Agreements on Quotas or Restricting Output .................... 43

(3)Enforcement Authorities .......................................................... 43

(4)Investigatory Procedures .......................................................... 45