1 Bundeswettbewerbsbehörde GD Dr. Theodor Thanner European Competition Day, 13 and 14 May 2009, Brno, Czech Republic B UNDES W ETTBEWERBS B EHÖRDE Federal Competition Authority of Austria

2 Regulation 1/ years on - „Form is the sworn enemy of caprice, the twin sister of liberty. […]“ Jhering, Geist des römischen Rechts auf den verschiedenen Stufen seiner Entwicklung, 2. Theil, 2. Abteilung, 3. Auflage 1875 U 470. B UNDES W ETTBEWERBS B EHÖRDE

3 An Expedition 27 mountaineers with EC-equipment climbing a mountain B UNDES W ETTBEWERBS B EHÖRDE

4 Edward Theodore Compton, 1918 Großglockner, 3798m

5 Content -ECN -Cooperation -Principle of Subsidiarity -Regulation 1/2003 quo vadis? -Best placed authority -Limits of NCAs’ investigative powers -The role of the judge -Legal Protection -The Role of Regional Cooperation within ECN -Outlook B UNDES W ETTBEWERBS B EHÖRDE

6 ECN Cooperation Best placed authority New investigative powers Exchange of information and evidence B UNDES W ETTBEWERBS B EHÖRDE

7 Cooperation Principle of Subsidiarity Communication Transparency Confidentiality B UNDES W ETTBEWERBS B EHÖRDE

8 Principle of Subsidiarity Art 5 EC-Treaty -It is a guiding principle for defining the boundary between MS and EU -Exclusive competence of EC – subsidiarity principle does not apply -Shared competence of MS and EC – decentralisation -EC only if objectives cannot be achieved sufficiently by MS and if they can be better achieved by the EC B UNDES W ETTBEWERBS B EHÖRDE

9 Reg 1/2003 quo vadis? Case Study - Best placed authority -EC - MS: partnership marked by division of tasks -Priority setting by Competition Authorities -Petrol markets no priority of the EC – shifted to national level -NCA took responsibility and investigated B UNDES W ETTBEWERBS B EHÖRDE

10 Reg 1/2003 quo vadis? Case Study – Limits of NCAs‘ investigative powers -Sector inquiry into fuel markets: national investigations > good results -European retail- and wholesale prices are linked to these notations > notations have tremendous impact on price developments -FCA of Austria (A) cannot send formal information requests directly to a company based in London -More transparency > more rational actions -Isn‘t there a need for regulation? B UNDES W ETTBEWERBS B EHÖRDE

11 Reg 1/2003 quo vadis? The role of the judges -Austria: Cartel Court as decision-making body -Is coherent application of Community rules ensured in national judiciary? -How could judges be more integrated in the ECN? B UNDES W ETTBEWERBS B EHÖRDE

12 Legal Protection -Transparency vs business secrets -Confidentiality between NCA vs confidentiality between law firms -Communication B UNDES W ETTBEWERBS B EHÖRDE

13 The Role of Regional Cooperation within ECN -An example of successful regional cooperation: -Marchfeld Competition Forum -13 national authorities -First meeting: Schloss Hof (July 2008) -Second Meeting: Innsbruck (Feb 2009) -More information: htm B UNDES W ETTBEWERBS B EHÖRDE

14 The Role of Regional Cooperation within ECN -Objectives: strengthening of cooperation on regional level -Future tasks and prospects: -Competition and Financial Crisis -The importance of regional cooperation grows with the ECN‘s tasks and scope B UNDES W ETTBEWERBS B EHÖRDE

15 Outlook Cooperation based on partnership Transparency and communication New effective investigative powers More convergence in remaining fields Regional cooperation built upon the ECN‘s framework B UNDES W ETTBEWERBS B EHÖRDE

16 Conclusion Not to bend the rules but to stand the rules. B UNDES W ETTBEWERBS B EHÖRDE

17 Thank you for your attention! B UNDES W ETTBEWERBS B EHÖRDE