On Tuesday July 20th, Ms. Nadia Calviño (Deputy Director-General, DG Competition) addressed members of the American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union (AmCham EU) outlining the European Commission’s priorities in the field of competition policy for the next five years.

“Our top priority has been dealing with the crisis”, Ms. Calviño stated during her keynote speech at AmCham EU’s July plenary meeting, before adding that "there is consensus on the need to enforce competition, even in these difficult times".

 

Recalling several recent landmark decisions, Ms. Calviño recognised the importance of taking into account the economic situation of companies when determining fines for anti-competitive behaviour. At the same time these fines also need to retain their deterrent effect, she added.

Responsible for the Mergers and Antitrust portfolio within DG Competition, Ms. Calviño also shared her views on what direction the Commission is likely to take for the remainder of its five-year mandate on topics such as:

• Mergers – an activity which seems to be increasing, according to Ms. Calviño;
• State aid – where the Commission emphasises that restructuring measures need to follow interventions by the Member State governments; and
• Collective redress – a joint consultation is expected to be launched in the autumn by DG Competition, DG Health & Consumers and DG Home Affairs).

Concluding, Ms. Calviño added that with regards to competition policy “you should not expect many changes from the Commission, and that is a good thing”.

Review of the legal framework applicable to horizontal cooperation agreements
Ms. Calviño’s speech was preceded by a panel discussion in which AmCham EU members exchanged views with Mr. Donncadh Woods (DG Competition, European Commission) on the ongoing Commission review of the rules applicable to agreements between competitors.

Moderated by Gabriel McGann (Co-chair of AmCham EU’s Competition Policy Committee) and also featuring as panellists Jonas Koponen (Linklaters) and Benoît Durand (RBB Economics), the discussion touched on aspects such as the general framework of the new rules, information exchange between competitors and standards.

AmCham EU submitted a detailed response to the Commission’s consultation on the topic earlier this year, which can be accessed here ('AmCham EU’s response to the Commission’s consultation on the review of horizontal agreements').

For additional information, please contact Bernardo Matos (bernardo.matos@amchameu.eu) at the AmCham EU Secretariat.

PHOTOS (top to bottom):
Keynote speaker, Ms. Nadia Calviño, Deputy Director-General, DG Competition, European Commission addressing AmCham EU members; Panel debate (left to right): Gabriel McCann (The Coca-Cola Company), Jonas Koponen (Linklaters) Donncadh Woods (DG Competition) and Benoît Durand (RBB Economics).