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CCPC welcomes ‘landmark’ Britain-EU deal

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has welcomed a technical agreement on competition co-operation announced yesterday (29 October) by the European Commission and the British Government.

The agreement clears the way for an agreement between the two jurisdictions, after ratification by the EU Council and the European Parliament.

Describing the deal as a landmark, the CCPC said that it represented a significant step towards more effective enforcement of competition law.

Collaboration

CCPC chair Brian McHugh welcomed what he described as a “significant advancement” in EU-British relations.

“This agreement represents the potential for enhanced collaboration to enforce competition law and, ultimately, foster competitive and dynamic markets,” he added.

The agreement would allow the European Commission, the national competition authorities (NCAs) of the EU member states, and Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority to co-operate directly in competition investigations. 

Co-ordination

The commission said that it was the first EU competition agreement that would enable NCAs to co-operate directly with a third country’s competition watchdog. 

The deal would provide for important competition and merger investigations in both jurisdictions to be brought to each other's attention. 

It would also allow the co-ordination of investigations “when necessary” and set out “clear principles of co-operation" aimed at avoiding any conflicts between jurisdictions.

Any business providing confidential information will still need to consent to the exchange of that information with the other jurisdiction.

The competition co-operation agreement will be a 'supplementing agreement' to the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).