Bundeswettbewerbsbehörde

The Bundeswettbewerbsbehörde, often abbreviated as BWB, is the Austrian Federal Competition Authority. It is an independent federal institution responsible for enforcing Austrian competition law and contributing to the effective application of EU competition law within Austria. The primary objectives of the BWB are to ensure and promote free and fair competition in the Austrian market.

The BWB's responsibilities include monitoring and investigating potential infringements of competition rules, such as cartels, abuses of dominant market positions, and anti-competitive mergers. If a competition law violation is detected, the BWB can impose fines and other remedies. The authority also plays a role in merger control, assessing whether proposed mergers or acquisitions would significantly distort competition in Austria. Furthermore, the BWB provides advice to the government and parliament on competition-related matters and raises public awareness about competition issues. It works closely with national competition authorities of other EU member states and the European Commission to ensure a consistent application of competition law across the European Union.