EUkilpailulainsäädäntö

EUkilpailulainsäädäntö, also known as EU competition law, is a body of legal rules established by the European Union to ensure that competition within the European single market remains fair and undistorted. Its primary objective is to promote consumer welfare and economic efficiency by preventing anti-competitive practices that could harm businesses and consumers.

The core principles of EU competition law are enshrined in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). Article 101 of the TFEU prohibits agreements between undertakings, decisions by associations of undertakings, and concerted practices that have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction, or distortion of competition within the internal market. This includes practices such as price-fixing, market sharing, and limiting production or distribution.

Article 102 of the TFEU prohibits the abuse of a dominant position by one or more undertakings within the internal market. This covers actions by dominant companies that unfairly exploit their market power, such as imposing unfair prices, limiting production to the prejudice of consumers, or applying discriminatory trading conditions.

In addition to these core prohibitions, EU competition law also regulates mergers and acquisitions to prevent the creation of dominant market positions that could harm competition. The European Commission is the primary body responsible for enforcing EU competition rules, investigating suspected infringements, and imposing sanctions. National competition authorities also play a crucial role in applying these rules within their respective member states. The aim is to create a level playing field for all businesses operating within the EU.