The Proliferation of National Regulatory Authorities Alongdside Competition Authorities in the EC: A Source of Jurisdictional Confusion

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to assess the risks that result from the mushrooming of regulatory authorities at the national level alongside the increased reliance on national competition authorities in the EC. Both sets of institutions have, to a certain extent, overlapping duties and competences. Therefore, they become increasingly procedural subsitutes for complainants. To avoid the risks of multiple proceedings and regulatory inconsistencies between the two sets of bodies, a variety of mechanisms have been adopted at the EC and national levels. The paper seeks to provide a brief account of these mechanisms and to show that they do not eradicate the risks of multiple proceedings.

Keywords: competition, authorities, regulatory, sector specific regulation, EC

JEL Classification: K21, L50, K20