Membership of the European Competition Network is compulsory for national competition authorities of EU Member States. The ECN's objective is to build an effective legal framework to challenge companies engaging in cross-border anti-competitive behaviour.
The ECN facilitates co-operation in the consistent application of European competition rules through arrangements for information sharing, assistance and consultation.
In 2009 the Competition Authority:
- Attended two types of high-level general meetings: the meeting of Directors General and ECN Plenery meetings.
- Was active in four of the five ECN Working Groups. These were Co-operation between Competition Authorities, Exemptions to Vertical Restraints, Leniency and Chief Economist.
- Was active in five of the eleven Sectoral Sub-groups that looked at issues in the following areas: Banking, Health Insurance, Energy, Food, Consumer Issues and Abuse of Dominance.
The ECN publishes an ECN Brief five times a year to inform the public about the competition enforcement and advocacy activities of the ECN and its members.
Joint Statements
In December 2010, the heads of the European Competition Authorities of the ECN issued their joint views on the need for effective competition authorities in Europe, available here, and concerning the recommendation of the High Level Group on Milk aimed at improving the bargaining power of dairy farms, available here.
The Future of the ECN
On 2 February 2010, the Institute of International and European Affairs hosted a discussion on the future of the ECN. Speaking on the panel were Mr. Bruno Lasserre (Président of the Autorité de Concurrence in France), Mr. Alés Musil (Head of Unit of the European Competition Network (ECN) Unit in DG Competition at the European Commission) and Dr. Stanley Wong (Member of the Competition Authority). To see a video of the discussion please click here.