The Judicial Review of National Competition Law Decisions in Austria (2004-2021)

Graz Law Working Paper No. 15-2022

Judicial Review of Competition Law Enforcement in the EU Member States and the UK (Kluwer 2024), B. Rodger & O. Brook (eds), 9789403502380

32 Pages Posted: 18 Nov 2022

See all articles by Viktoria H.S.E. Robertson

Viktoria H.S.E. Robertson

Vienna University of Economics and Business; The Competition Law Hub

Date Written: November 17, 2022

Abstract

In Austria, the Federal Competition Authority does not adopt its own infringement decisions but needs to apply to the Cartel Court to have a fine imposed or an infringement terminated. For the purposes of Regulation 1/2003, the Cartel Court is therefore designated as a (judicial) national competition authority. Its decisions can be appealed before the Supreme Cartel Court as the second and final instance. Based on an extensive database of all appeals in the public enforcement of the competition law provisions on anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominance, the present contribution analyses how the judicial review of national competition law decisions has developed in Austria since the entry into force of Regulation 1/2003 on 1 May 2004. It finds that not only is there a relatively low number of appeals, but in addition very few appeals are successful. One successful appeal that stood out over the years was the authority’s appeal of a fine imposed on an infringer that was increased by a factor of ten by the Supreme Cartel Court. Interestingly, the Cartel Court’s decisions in public enforcement almost exclusively focus on hard-core cartels. The application of EU competition law alongside national competition law has firmly established itself in Austria.

Keywords: Antitrust law, comparative antitrust, competition law, enforcement, judicial deference, judicial review, national competition authority, Regulation 1/2003

Suggested Citation

Robertson, Viktoria H.S.E., The Judicial Review of National Competition Law Decisions in Austria (2004-2021) (November 17, 2022). Graz Law Working Paper No. 15-2022, Judicial Review of Competition Law Enforcement in the EU Member States and the UK (Kluwer 2024), B. Rodger & O. Brook (eds), 9789403502380, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4279729 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4279729

Viktoria H.S.E. Robertson (Contact Author)

Vienna University of Economics and Business ( email )

Welthandelsplatz 1
Vienna, Wien 1020
Austria

HOME PAGE: http://www.wu.ac.at/en/complaw/

The Competition Law Hub ( email )

Austria

HOME PAGE: http://www.complawhub.eu

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