EU competition regulation

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The European Commission (Commission) is the principle EU regulator tasked with enforcing and supervising EU competition law.

The Commission will investigate and take action against particular types of behaviour, for example, cartel activity and dominant companies trying to leverage their market power. It will also investigate merger cases and assess State aid.

EU competition law

There are four principle areas of EU competition law:

  1. •

    the prohibition on anti-competitive agreements under Article 101 TFEU (see further, The prohibition on restrictive agreements)

  2. •

    the prohibition on the abuse of a dominant position under Article 102 TFEU (see further, the prohibition on abuse of dominance)

  3. •

    merger control under the EU Merger Regulation (Regulation 139/2004), which requires the prior notification of transactions that meet the required thresholds to the Commission (see further, a 'concentration' with an EU dimension), and

  4. •

    the prohibition on illegal State Aid under Articles 107-109 TFEU, where a Member State provides aid to selected companies over others that impacts competition and affects trade between Member States (see further, State aid).

EU competition law is enforced by the Commission (with appeals

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Latest Competition News

UK Competition law—daily round-up (19/03/2026)

A round-up of UK competition law developments, including the CAT’s judgment dismissing Spreadex’s challenge to CMA’s remittal decision on counterfactual in sports spread betting merger.

EU Competition law—daily round-up (19/03/2026)

A round-up of EU competition law developments, including (amongst other things) (1) the Court of Justice dismisses appeals by German energy utility companies regarding Commission’s decision to approve the acquisition by E.ON of the distribution and retail energy business as well as certain general assets of Innogy, (2) AG proposes that the Court of Justice should dismiss appeal on calculation of fine cap for cooperative undertaking, and (3) the Court of Justice issues judgment in national reference from Latvia on whether a natural person shareholder may constitute an ‘enterprise’ linking undertakings under the GBER State aid rules.

Competition weekly highlights—19 March 2026

This week's edition of Competition weekly highlights includes, from a UK perspective: (1) the CAT makes collective proceedings order granting Vicki Shotbolt permission to commence collective damages action against Valve, (2) the government responds to consultation on proposed reforms to the NSI Act 2021 mandatory notification regime, (3) the CMA publishes letter in response to the Chancellor on pricing pressures and competition in heating oil and road fuel markets, (4) the CMA consults on potential designation of Aldi and Lidl under the Groceries Market Investigation (Controlled Land) Order 2010, (5) the CMA approves slot release agreement in Korean Air/Asiana Airlines merger, and (6) the CMA extends deadline for remedies in Aramark/Entier phase 2 merger investigation. This week's highlights also includes, from an EU perspective: (1) the AG considers Latvian municipality not an ‘undertaking’ under Article 102 TFEU when organising in-house waste management, (2) the AG issues opinion concerning national reference from Italy on binding effect and scope of Euribor cartel findings under Article 101 TFEU, (3) the AG issues opinions in JP Morgan and Crédit Agricole appeals in Euro Interest Rate Derivatives cartel case, (4) the AG’s issues opinion suggesting dismissal of Silgan appeal concerning Commission competence in German metal packaging cartel, (5) the Commission publishes evaluation study to inform revision of Aviation State Aid Guidelines, (6) the Commission adopts new State aid rules to boost the use of more sustainable ways of transport, and (7) the Commission reviews State aid rules for banks in difficulty.

EU Competition law—daily round-up (18/03/2026)

A round-up of EU competition law developments, including the latest EUMR developments.

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