Competition law in the EU, its Member States and Switzerland, Vol.1

Book abstract:

This is a new publication in the series 'Law of Business and Finance' produced by the Business and Law Research Centre based in the Netherlands. The centre, a co-operation of the Faculty of Law of the University of Nijmengen and a number of renowned Dutch law companies, was established in 1994. It is a leading research institute in the field of business and law, recognised by the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences.

This first volume of the new publication contains a survey of the general structure and nature of EC competition law. This is followed by an analysis of the competition laws of France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, The Netherlands and Belgium. Each country analysis examines the key aspects of competition law, i.e. the substantive rules on restrictions of competition and abuse of dominance as well as the rules on concentration control. In respect of both issues, the rules of procedure and enforcement are also set out. In addition, the reader will find a short synopsis per country of the powers of special sectorial regulators (if any) in fields such as telecommunication, energy, broadcasting and public transport. Finally, the substantive and procedural rules of Switzerland have been included in this work, that country being an important trading partner for almost all Member States and being geographically encircled by the EU.

The second volume, which will contain a survey of competition law in the remaining EU Member States, is due for publication in the near future.

This work should be interesting to all private practitioners, in-house lawyers, bankers, accountants, tax advisers and to all others who come across competition law in their daily course of business.