Press Release: Antitrust: consumer welfare at heart of Commission fight against abuses by dominant undertakings

The European Commission published guidance on its enforcement priorities in applying EC Treaty rules on abuse of a dominant market position (Article 82) to abusive exclusionary conduct by dominant undertakings. Such conduct aims to exclude actual competitors from expanding or would-be competitors from entering a market, thereby potentially depriving customers of more choice, more innovative goods or services and/or lower prices. The guidance set out the Commission's determination to prioritise those cases where the exclusionary conduct of a dominant undertaking is liable to have harmful effects on consumers.

European Commission: MEMO/08/761: Antitrust: Guidance on Commission enforcement priorities in applying Article 82 to exclusionary conduct by dominant firms – frequently asked questions http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/08/761&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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