Press Release: Competition: Commission proposes regulation that extensively amends system for implementing Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty

On 27.9.00, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a Regulation implementing Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty, which set out the Community competition rules applicable to restrictive practices between businesses and abuses of dominant positions committed by them. The proposal is intended to replace the current system, in force since 1962, of administrative authorisation that is centralised at Commission level by one in which not only the Commission but also the national authorities and courts will be able to apply Article 81 in full. It is important to note that the proposal does not concern state aid or merger control.