With Regulation (EC) no. 1/2003 a system of parallel competences was created within which the European Commission and the competition authorities of the Member States apply the competition rules laid down in the EC Treaty (Articles 101 and 102 TFEU). Together the national competition authorities and the Commission form a network of authorities, which act in the public interest and cooperate closely to protect competition. This network is known as the “European Competition Network”, (ECN). The ECN is a discussion and cooperation forum for applying and enforcing EC competition policy. The network provides a framework for cooperation between the European competition authorities in cases in which Articles 101 and 102 TFEU are applied and a basis for creating and fostering a common competition culture in Europe.

The cooperation takes the following form:

• exchange of information about cases and decisions taken by the member authorities,
• mutual assistance with investigations,
• exchange of evidence or other information.

Fora within the ECN
The key fora of the ECN are the Plenary, the “Cooperation Issues Working Group” and various sectoral subgroups. In the sectoral subgroups experts from the national authorities and the European Commission discuss competition policy issues affecting particular sectors (such as “energy”, “pharmaceuticals”, “banking and insurance", "professional services", sports and media.) The leading forum of the ECN is the Director-Generals Meeting which specifies the mandate of the network.

ECN and ECA
In addition to the ECN, the ECA (European Competition Authorities) provides another discussion forum, which includes the competition authorities of the countries of the European Economic Area, the European Commission and the surveillance authority of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

ECN and Bundeskartellamt
In May 2004 a coordination unit was set up in the Bundeskartellamt to represent the authority in the network of the European competition authorities.

Legal bases:

• Articles 101 and 102 TFEU
• Council Regulation No. 1/2003 of 16.12.2002 on the implementation of the rules on competition laid down in Articles 101 and 102 TFEU
• Commission Notice on Cooperation within the Network of Competition Authorities

Links:

• European Commission, Directorate-General for Competition
• European Commission, general information about the ECN
• European Competition Network, newsletter
  

The Bundeskartellamt undertakes no guarantee that the content of the legal provisions linked to its website is up-to-date.