Antitrust: Commission introduces new anonymous whistleblower tool

On the 16 March 2017 the European Commission launched a new tool to make it easier for individuals to alert the Commission about secret cartels and other antitrust violations, while maintaining their anonymity.

Individuals can now help anonymously in the fight against cartels and other anti-competitive practices. These practices include agreeing on prices or procurement bids, keeping products off the market or unfairly excluding rivals and can cause immense damage to Europe's economy. They can deny customers access to a wider choice of goods and services at reasonable prices, stifle innovation and put companies out of business.

The new system increases the likelihood of detection and prosecution and so stands to further deter businesses from entering or remaining in cartels or carrying out other types of illegal anti-competitive behaviour. It therefore complements and reinforces the effectiveness of the Commission's leniency programme.

• Primary Source

ESO: EU agencies faulted for not protecting whistleblowers http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-agencies-faulted-for-not-protecting-whistleblowers/

---