Press Release: Competition: Commission launches consultations on facilitating damages claims for breaches of EU competition law

The European Commission published on 19 December 2005 a Green Paper on how to facilitate actions for damages caused by violations of EC Treaty competition rules’ ban on restrictive business practices and abuse of dominant market positions (Articles 81 and 82 respectively). Violations of these rules, in particular by price fixing cartels, can cause considerable damage to companies and consumers but numerous obstacles can hinder actions for damages by injured parties in national courts. Comments on the Green Paper must be submitted by 21 April 2006.

European Commission: Antitrust: Others: Actions for damages http://ec.europa.eu/comm/competition/antitrust/others/actions_for_damages/gp.html

European Commission: Memo: MEMO/05/489 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/489&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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