Sweden joined the European Economic Area in January 1994, and became a member of the European Union the following year. With the advent of EU membership, it introduced a major shift in the direction of its competition law and policy. A wave of product market liberalisation was supplemented by a new Competition Act and a new Competition Authority, superseding a model that had been applied for almost forty years. Where enforcement action earlier had relied mainly on information, influence and negotiation, the new competition regime was based on clear rules prohibiting certain conduct, and vigorous intervention against any infringements of the prohibitions.