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Who will Protect Competition in Europe? From central enforcement to authority networks and private litigation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 February 2009

Basedow Jürgen
Basedow Jürgen
Affiliation:
Director, Max-Planck-Institute of Foreign Private and Private International Law, Hamburg; Professor of Law, University of Hamburg; Member, German Monopolies Commission.
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Extract

When the European Commission published its “White Paper on modernisation of the rules implementing Articles 85 and 86 of the EC Treaty” in spring 1999 it triggered a broad discussion on the future legal framework of the enforcement of competition law in the European Union. The most important change, which the Commission suggested, consists in the decentralisation of the application of Article 81 section 3 EC. While anti-competitive agreements and concerted practices, which are prohibited by Article 81 section 1 can only be exempted, for the time being, by a Commission decision taken under Article 81 section 3 and Regulation 17/62 the Commission wants to give up that monopoly. According to the White Paper both national competition authorities and national courts of law will be in a position to directly apply Article 81 section 3. Among the first reactions to that proposal was that of ErnstJoachimMestmäcker to whom this paper is dedicated in longstanding respect and gratitude to celebrate his 75th Anniversary. He published an extensive, severe and outspoken critique as early as September 1999. His analysis has had a strong impact on academic discussions and public opinion in Germany, although it has not persuaded the European Commission which drafted a proposal for a regulation along the lines of the White Paper in late 2000. Again, Ernst-JoachimMestmäcker has reacted by a striking and even more elaborate critique which resumes and extends the discussion.

Type
Research Article
Information
European Business Organization Law Review (EBOR) , Volume 2 , Issue 3-4 , September 2001 , pp. 443 - 468
Copyright
Copyright © T.M.C. Asser Press and the Authors 2001

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References

1 Commission Programme No. 99/027, COM (1999) 101 fin.

2 First Regulation Implementing Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty Issued by the Council on 6.2.1962, OJ(EC) [English Special Edition 1959-1962] No. 204/62, p. 87.

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28 See infra 2.2.3 and 2.2.4.

29 It emerges from an internal staff paper that the Commission is not unaware of the problem; it suggests to proceed on a case by case basis, but has no clear criteria for the decision.

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33 Explanatory Memorandum of the draft regulation, supra n. 5, comment on Art. 12.

34 Ibid.

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36 See the Explanatory Memorandum of the draft regulation, supra n. 5, sec. 2 C 2 (b).

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52 Case 6/64 Costa v. Enel, [1964] ECR 585, 594.

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64 See Volker Emmerich in: Immenga/Mestmäcker, supra n. 59, vol. I, p. 152 no. 103, who describes both agreements and concerted practices as two forms of an “intentional coordination of behaviour”.

65 BGH 23.10.1979, NJW [1980] 1224, 1225; Karsten Schmidt, supra n. 59, p. 322 no. 85.

66 See the opinion of Advocate General van Gerven in case C-128/92 Banks, [1994] ECR I-1209, paras. 36 et seq.; contra Weyer, supra n. 61, ZEuP [1999] 437-439.

67 Under section 33 of the German Statute against Restrictions of Competition, industry associations have standing to apply for injunctions, but not for damages; consumer associations are not mentioned.

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69 See Rule 26 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, 28 USCA 26.

70 A limited legislative competence is laid down in Art. 65 (c) EC.

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78 Section 4 Clayton Act, 38 Stat. 730 (1914), codified as amended, 15 USCA § 15, grants the plaintiff treble damages for violation of the “antitrust statutes” which include the Sherman Act, see the definition in section 1 Clayton Act.

79 Directive of 29.6.2000, OJ(EC) [2000] L 200/35.

80 Ibid., preliminary consideration no. 16.