EU-UK Agreement regarding cooperation on the application of their respective competition laws

The European Parliament adopted by 640 votes to 5, with 26 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland regarding cooperation on the application of their respective competition laws.

Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the agreement.

The purpose of the competition cooperation agreement is to promote cooperation and coordination in competition matters between the competition authorities of the EU and its Member States, on the one hand, and the UK, on ​​the other, with a view to ensuring more effective enforcement of EU and UK competition law. The agreement therefore allows not only the Commission, but also the national competition authorities of the EU Member States responsible for enforcing EU competition law, to cooperate directly with the UK competition authority (the Competition and Markets Authority).

Furthermore, the agreement allows for the exchange of information between competition authorities to the extent permitted by the national law applicable to them.