EU Competition Procedure

Written by a distinguished team with extensive experience in the area, this key analytical commentary on the competition procedures of the EU provides in-depth coverage of the relevant rules. The work discusses in detail the Commission's package of regulations and guidelines and their interaction in practice. This fourth edition fully updates the work to reflect recent legislative developments and a wealth of recent case law. Coverage also includes discussion of the fining practice of the European Commission and the judicial review of this practice by the Community Courts. As a practical guide to procedure, focusing on the implementation of the regulatory framework by the Commission and the relevant case law of the European Courts, this is an indispensable resource for all practitioners involved in competition proceedings before the European Commission and national competition authorities.

1. - The Institutional Framework
2. - The Role of National Judicial Authorities
3. - The Role of National Competition Authorities
4. - The Organization of European Commission Proceedings
5. - Opening of the File and of Proceedings; Transparency
6. - Investigation of Cases (I): Leniency Policy
7. - Investigation of Cases (II): Formal Investigative Measures in General, Requests for Information, and Interviews
8. - Investigation of Cases (III): Inspections
9. - Procedural Infringements: Fines and Periodic Penalty Payments
10. - Procedures to Establish the Existence of an Infringement
11. - Infringement Decisions and Penalties
12. - Rejection of Complaints
13. - Voluntary Adjustments, Commitments, Finding of Inapplicability, Informal Guidance
14. - Other Special Procedures
15. - Steps Following the Adoption of a Formal Decision. Judicial Review
16. - General Issues: Scope of Control
17. - Procedures
18. - Judicial Review of Commission Decisions Regarding Concentrations
19. - Procedure on State Measures-Decisions under Article 106(3) TFEU
20. - Directives under Article 106(3)
21. - General Questions on Procedure. Control of State Aid Compatibility. Council's Decision-Making Power
22. - Prior Control of New Notified Aid
23. - Unlawful Aid
24. - Control of Existing Aid Schemes
25. - Implementation of the Commission's Decisions
26. - Role of National Courts
27. - State Aid Litigation before the European Union Courts
28. - European Economic Area Competition Procedure
29. - EU Competition Arbitration

Luis Ortiz Blanco is of counsel in the EU and Competition Law Department at Garrigues, where he has continued to pursue his professional career after spending ten years (1987-1996) as an official in the Directorate General for Competition in the European Commission, Brussels.