Press Release: Antitrust: Commission welcomes Parliament vote to facilitate damages claims by victims of antitrust violations

On 17 April 2014, the European Parliament approved a proposal for a Directive which will help citizens and companies claim damages if they are victims of infringements of the EU antitrust rules, such as cartels and abuses of dominant market positions. The Directive was based on a proposal by the Commission of June 2013, and aimed to remove a number of practical difficulties which victims frequently face when they try to obtain compensation for the harm they have suffered. In particular, it would give victims easier access to evidence they need to prove the damage and more time to make their claims. At the same time it ensured that the effectiveness of the tools used by competition authorities to enforce antitrust rules, in particular leniency and settlement programmes, is preserved. The proposal would be sent to the EU Council of Ministers for final approval.

• Primary Source

European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/14/310: Antitrust: Commission proposal for Directive to facilitate damages claims by victims of antitrust violations – frequently asked questions http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-310_en.pdf

ESO: Background information: Antitrust: Commission proposes legislation to facilitate damage claims by victims of antitrust violations https://www.europeansources.info/showDoc?ID=1180431

ESO: Background information: New rules to facilitate damage claims for antitrust law violations http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-new-rules-to-facilitate-damage-claims-for-antitrust-law-violations/

European Commission: Competition: Antitrust: Legislative initiative on Antitrust Damages Actions http://ec.europa.eu/competition/antitrust/actionsdamages/documents.html

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