Specifically, the aim of the consultation is to allow DG COMP to assess “…if we can further improve the [enforcement]toolbox of [the] national competition authorities”.

According to DG COMP, areas where legislative reforms are possible include:

• Giving the NCAs additional tools to detect and tackle infringements.

• Ensuring that the NCAs have effective leniency programmes for uncovering cartels across Europe.

• Ensuring that all NCAs can levy “effective fines”, i.e. covering the full period of a company’s participation in a cartel. 

• Safeguarding the NCAs’ independence and ensuring that they have adequate resources and staff.

Eddy de Smijter and the ECN team have very kindly agreed to participate in this first ‘Chatham House’ rule discussion during the public consultation on the different possibilities for EU legislative action in 2016.

Participants will learn about what DG COMP may have in mind for the “legislative initiative” mentioned by Commissioner Vestager at the European Parliament on 09 November and by contributing their experience of public enforcement from across the EU, add to the Commission’s understanding of what guarantees are needed to empower the NCAs to be effective enforcers.

List of participants (updated 14.12.15)

DG COMP's public consultation page

Commission press release IP/15/5998

'Perspectives on Europe', M.Vestager, London School of Economics (20.11.15)

Communication 'Ten Years of Antitrust Enforcement under Regulation 1/2003: Achievements and Future Perspectives'  (COM(2014)453 (09.07.14)

Register for this meeting

You can participate in this discussion either in-person (in Brussels) or by teleconference from your desk.

Rates in €uros excluding VAT are:

Category	Early registration	Normal registration	Late registration
Lawyer in private practice / Economists	125	150	175
General / In-house counsel	100	120	140
Public sector lawyer	80	80	100
Full-time students / academics	50	50	75

On registration, all participants will receive immediate email confirmation of participation, once their payment has been approved.

Participants by teleconference can choose to be dialed into the meeting or to receive (a few hours in advance) a unique dial-in access code to the meeting.

Teleconference participants will be dialed in / dial in at most 15 minutes before the start of the meeting.

The discussion will last a maximum of 90 minutes. All participants will receive the speaker's presentation and will be able to ask questions. 

Register for this meeting