Fighting cartels: the national and EU antitrust enforcement experience

The heads of several national competition authorities have called for more convergence on substantive assessment of evidence in antitrust proceedings and on a methodology for fine setting. The new directive on private damages actions emphasizes the role of national courts and the necessity for a common European framework with coordinated antitrust action.

In this competition policy lab we will discuss experiences of anti-cartel enforcement at national and EU level. Starting from there, we will ask the question of how the fight against cartels in Europe can be enhanced, what are the right tools that national and EU competition authorities should use and whether improved coordination and information sharing between authorities can truly help stepping up deterrence.

President Giovanni Pitruzzella, head of AGCM, the Italian Antitrust Authority, and Eric Vanginderachter, Director of Cartels at DG Competition will present and discuss the Italian and European Commission experiences. Both authorities have recently been very active in this area of enforcement: this year, the Italian Authority imposed a record fine of €182.5 million to Novartis and La Roche for a cartel over eye drug; the Authority also recently opened an investigation for alleged collusion over interest rates amongst 6 regional banks in Northern Italy and it launched a call for input for the design of guidelines on the quantification of antitrust sanctions. On the European Commission side, major decisions were adopted in the last months: Libor/Euribor, automotive bearings, high-voltage power cables, to mention some, and important investigations in alleged collusive behaviours such as price-benchmarking for raw-materials, are currently ongoing.

Speakers

• Giovanni Pitruzzella, Head of AGCM - Italian Antitrust Authority
• Eric Vanginderachter, Director of Cartels - Dg-Competition, European Commission
• Chair: Mario Mariniello, Research Fellow, Bruegel

Practical information

• Venue: Bruegel, Rue de la Charité 33, 1210 Brussels
• Time: 12.30-13.45 (Lunch will be served at the end of the event)
• Contact: Matilda Sevón, Events Manager - [email protected]