EU Competition Authorities
The tasks of the European Commission include the application and execution of EU competition law. Legal proceedings regarding competition matters are handled by the General Court and appeals on the General Court’s judgments are made to the European Court of Justice.
The Commission’s Directorate-General for Competition investigates and makes decisions in competition infringement cases as well as sets fines, if applicable. In connection with the investigations, the Commission has a right to make investigations (dawn raids) without prior notice and request information from parties. The Commission investigates also the mergers, acquisitions and state aid matters notified to it.
The General Court assesses as the first instance the Commission’s decisions on competition matters, if one of the parties is dissatisfied with the decision of the Commission. A company may e.g. bring a suit to reverse a decision of the Commission if the Commission has set a competition infringement fine.
Judgments of the General Court may be appealed to the Court of Justice as to significant legal questions. The Court of Justice gives also preliminary rulings to national courts. The decisions set out the Court’s interpretation on how EU competition rules should be applied.