Translation of "norme de concurrence communautaire " (French → English) :

6. Notes that claims for damages for EC competition law infringements should be treated consistently with other non-contractual claims in so far as possible, is of the opinion that a horizontal or integrated approach could cover procedural rules that are common to collective redress mechanisms in different areas of law, and stresses that this approach must not delay or avoid the development of proposals and measures identified as necessary for the full enforcement of EC competition law; notes, furthermore, the more advanced analysis of civil competition law redress and the advanced framework for competition authorities, including the Eu ...[+++]ropean Competition Network, and that, at least in regard to some issues, this justifies moving forward rapidly, taking into account that some of the measures envisaged could be extended to non-competition areas; takes the view that such sectoral rules could already be proposed with regard to the particular complexities and difficulties encountered by victims of competition law infringements;

The Commission is forcefully pursuing infringements of Community competition law (antitrust) in the sector wherever the Community interest so requires, in close cooperation with National Competition Authorities.

15. Moreover, the Commission is particularly well placed to deal with a case if it is closely linked to other Community provisions which may be exclusively or more effectively applied by the Commission, if the Community interest requires the adoption of a Commission decision to develop Community competition policy when a new competition issue arises or to ensure effective enforcement.

Those Community law provisions may provide for the faculty of national courts to avail themselves of certain instruments, e.g. to ask for the Commission's opinion on questions concerning the application of EC competition rules(22) or they may create rules that have an obligatory impact on proceedings before them, e.g. allowing the Commission and national competition authorities to submit written observations(23).

28. Advocates a larger role for the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in international competition policy; therefore calls on the Council to instruct the Commission to conduct negotiations aimed at concluding multilateral agreements on international competition law in the context of the WTO; at the same time, urges the Commission to incorporate uniform minimum competition standards and the establishment of independent competition authorities in all WTO member countries in the guidelines for combating practices detrimental to competition, which interfere with trade and investment;

(3) Whereas on 22 January 1997 the Commission published a Green Paper on Vertical Restraints in EC Competition Policy which generated a wide-ranging public debate on the application of Article 81(1) and (3) of the Treaty to vertical agreements; whereas the response from Member States, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions and interested parties has been generally in favour of reform of Community competition policy in this area;