EC competition law

Book abstract:

Competition law is one of the principal areas of substantive EC law and of all areas of EC law the one with which the practitioner is most likely to come into contact. The rapid development of the field over the last ten years has only increased its importance. This new book aims to provide an accessible introduction to EC competition law, and delivers a clear and concise exposition of an increasingly complex and wide-ranging subject. The book is particularly timely in the United Kingdom with the incorporation into national law of the principles and practices of EC competition law by the Competition Act 1998.

As well as analysing the key Treaty articles governing the area (Articles 81 and 82), it considers the recent developments in the application of the competition rules to oligopolies, mergers, public undertakings and the exercise of intellectual property rights and addresses in detail the issues to which their enforcement, by both the Commission and national courts give rise. The author reviews the latest developments, including those in the case law of the Court of Justice and the Court of First Instance up to Summer 2000, the new vertical agreements legislation, the Commission White Paper on reform, and points to potential areas of change and the likely development of the Competition Act.

'EC competition law' will be essential reading for LLB and LLM students of competition law, EC law generally and specialist options on EC competition law. It will also be useful for students in non-law disciplines studying subjects such as European business and economics at an advanced level. Legal practitioners will also find the book a useful introduction to the subject.

Robert Lane is Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Law, University of Edinburgh.