Reflections on the Enforcement of
European Union Competition Law
Dr Vincent J G Power
18 September 2013
Purpose of this Presentation
TO PRESENT
SOME REFLECTIONS ON,
AND
SOME RADICAL IDEAS FOR THE REFORM OF,
EUROPEAN UNION COMPETITION LAW
Menu for this Presentation
 A Primer on EU Competition Law
 The Remarkable Nature of EU Competition Law
 Merits of the Existing Institutional Structure
 Scale of the Penalties
 Lack of a Deterrent Effect of the Existing Penalties?
 Politicised State Aid Regime
 What did we Learn from the Financial Crisis?
 The Use of Communications to Make Law?
 What about the Proposed Damages Package?
 The Limited Scope of EU Competition Law?
 Conclusions
Competition Law
 Set of legal rules
 designed
 to ensure rivalry, fairness and freedom
 in the market
 so that there can be rivalry in the market
 leading to increased efficiency
 and enhanced consumer welfare
Primer on EU Competition Law
Issue
Rule
Anti-competitive Arrangements
TFEU, Article 101
Abuse of Dominance
TFEU, Article 102
State Authorities
TFEU, Article 106
State Aid
TFEU, Articles 107-109
Merger Control
Regulation 139/2004
Primer on Competition Law: Excitement
Bill Gates, one of the brightest people on the planet, sent the
following email, which emerged in the Microsoft antitrust
litigation:
"How much do we need to pay you to screw Netscape?“
He also asked in another e-mail about a competitor:
“Do we have a clear plan on what we want Apple to do to
undermine Sun?”
This arose in a UK OFT case:
The makers of Monopoly sent the following email after
fixing prices for games and toys with various retailers:
'Ian … This is a great initiative that you and Neil have
instigated!!!!!!!!! However, a word to the wise, never
ever put anything in writing, its highly illegal and it
could bite you right in the arse!!!! suggest you phone
Lesley and tell her to trash? Talk to Dave. Mike'
Remarkable Nature of EU Competition Law
 Acceptance of Competition as a Concept and a
Philosophy in Europe
 A long road from “protectionism” to “competition”
 Imposition of Tough Penalties is now Common Place
 Interference with Sovereignty of Member States
 Reform and evolution of the Regime
Remarkable Nature of EU Competition Law
 Relationship between EU and Member State Institutions
 Role of National Competition Authorities and the European
Competition Network
 Ability of the European Commission to receive Complaints
and conduct Own-Initiative Investigations
 Evolution of Doctrine and Philosophy
 Court willing to Strike Down the Commission’s Decisions
 Well-functioning System
 Recognition of Imperfections
Merits of the Existing Institutional Structure
 Imagine a land far, far away
» Judgments are handed down by politicians
» Defendants never see the decision-makers
» Decisions are made quickly
» Decisions are made upon reliance of the views of officials
» Politicians within the system and outside the system believe they can influence
the decision
» These decisions can involve enormous fines
 Is reform needed?
 Is an independent agency, tribunal or court required?
Scale of the Penalties
 The Fines imposed by the EU are enormous
» “Commission avarice has been increasing steadily over the years” – Edward
and Lane, Edward and Lane on European Union Law (2013), page 779
2003
€ 416,000,000
2004
€ 388,000,000
2005
€ 422,000,000
2009
€1,540,651,400
2010
€ 2,868,459,674
2011
€ 614,053,000
2012
€ 1,875,694,000
2013 (to 10.7.2013)
€
141,791,000
Scale of the Penalties
Scale of the Penalties
 But are they having a deterrent effect?
 Are they becoming unreal?
 Are some penalties really penalties at all?
Lack of a Deterrent Effect of Penalties?
 What about smaller penalties but imposed on
directors and managers?
 National experience
 Deterrent Effect
 Competence to have Criminal Penalties?
Politicised State Aid Regime
 Concept of State Aid
 Examples of State Aid
 Political Nature of State Aid
 Extraordinary nature of State Aid Control
 Examples of State Aid Issues in the Banking Crisis
 Notification of State Aid
 What happens when State Aid is Found to Exist?
 Is that a Penalty at all? Is it just an even bet?
 Should the regime be depoliticised?
 Should recipients/beneficiaries be entitled to notify potential State aid?
Lessons from the Financial Crisis?
 Does the End justify the Means?
 State Aid decision making in “peace time”?
 State Aid decision making in “war”?
 Was the State Aid regime the right regime at all?
 1992 / Single Market / Ban on Acquisitions on EU Banks
 Curious result
 Use of “Communications” to Make Law?
Lessons from the Financial Crisis
1.
Communication from the Commission — The application of State aid rules to measures taken in relation
to financial institutions in the context of the current global financial crisis, 13 October 2008 (see
IP/08/1495)
2.
Communication from the Commission — The recapitalisation of financial institutions in the current
financial crisis: limitation of aid to the minimum necessary and safeguards against undue distortions of
competition, 5 December 2008 (see IP/08/1901)
3.
Communication from the Commission on the Treatment of Impaired Assets in the Community Banking
Sector, 25 February 2009 (see IP/09/322)
4.
Communication from the Commission - Temporary framework for State aid measures to support access
to finance in the current financial and economic crisis, adopted on 17 December 2008 (see IP/08/1993),
as amended on 25 February 2009.
5.
Communication from the Commission - The return to viability and the assessment of restructuring
measures in the financial sector in the current crisis under the State aid rules, 23 July 2009 (see
IP/09/1180)
6.
Communication from the Commission – on the application, from 1 January 2011, of State aid rules to
support measures in favour of banks in the context of the financial crisis (see IP/10/1636)
7.
Communication from the Commission - on the application, from 1 January 2012, of State aid rules to
support measures in favour of banks in the context of the financial crisis (see IP/11/1488)
8.
Communication from the Commission – on the application, from 1 August 2013, of State aid rules to
support measures in favour of banks in the context of the financial crisis (see IP/13/672)
Proposed Damages Package
 What about the Proposed Damages Package?
 History
 Main Elements of the Package
 Reflections on the Package
 An alternative – and better? – Proposal
 Damages as Part of the Decision?
Limited Scope of EU Competition Law
 The Limited Scope of EU Competition Law?
 Treaty rules written almost 60 years ago are still in place
 Meaning of “competition”
 Change in the policy and approach
 Need to change the Treaty rules?
 But how?
 But why?
What have we just discussed?
 A Primer on EU Competition Law
 The Remarkable Nature of EU Competition Law
 Merits of the Existing Institutional Structure
 Scale of the Penalties
 Lack of a Deterrent Effect of the Existing Penalties?
 Politicised State Aid Regime
 What did we Learn from the Financial Crisis?
 The Use of Communications to Make Law?
 What about the Proposed Damages Package?
 The Limited Scope of EU Competition Law?
 Conclusions
Proposals for Debate
 Independent Non-Politicised Decision Making Structure for Competition,
Merger Control and State Aid Cases
 Penalties should be more Meaningful and more Targeted including on
individuals
 Beneficiaries should be able to Notify Possible State Aid
 Damages as Part of the Original Decision
 Laws have to be Clearer and not just contained in Administrative Paper
Reflections on the Enforcement of
European Union Competition Law
Dr Vincent J G Power
18 September 2013