Market Power in EU Antitrust Law

The notion of market power is central to antitrust law. Under EU law, antitrust rules refer to appreciable restrictions of competition (Article 101(1) Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), ex Article 81(1) EC Treaty), the elimination of competition for a substantial part of the market (Article 101 (3) TFEU, ex Article (81(3) EC), dominant positions (Article 10 (2) TFEU, ex Article 82 EC), and substantial impediment to effective competition, in particular by creating or reinforcing a dominant position (Article 2 of the EU Merger Regulation). At first sight, only the concept of dominant position relates to market power, but it is the aim of this book to demonstrate that the other concepts are directly linked to the notion of market power. This is done by reference to the case law of the EU Courts and the precedents of the European Commission. The author goes on to argue that for very good reasons (clarity and enforceability, among others) the rules should be interpreted in this way. Beginning with market definition, the book reviews the different rules and the different degrees of market power they incorporate. Thus it analyses the notion of 'appreciable restriction of competition' to find a moderate market power obtained by agreement among competitors to be the benchmark for the application of Article 101 TFEU, ex Article 81 EC. It moves on to the concept of dominance under Article 102 TFEU (ex Article 82 EC), which is equivalent to substantial (or sgnificant) market power, and then focuses on the old and new tests for EU merger control. Finally, it addresses the idea of elimination of competition in respect of a substantial part of the market (Article 101 (3) TFEU, ex Article 81 (3) (b) EC), in which the last two types of market power (Article 102 TFEU, ex Article 82 EC and EU Merger Regulation) converge. To exemplify this, an in-depth study of the notion of collective dominance is conducted. The book concludes that a paradigm of market power exists under the EU antitrust rules that both fits with past practice and provides for a useful framework of analysis for the general application of the rules by administrative and even more importantly judicial authorities in the Member States, under conditions of legal certainty.

Table of Contents:
1 Defining the Relevant Market in European Competition Law 2 Economic Power under Article 101(1) TFEU: Quantitative Evaluation of the 'Appreciable' Nature of a Restriction on Competition and Trade between Member States 3 Economic Power under Article 102 TFEU: Establishment of Dominant Position 4 Economic Power in the European Merger Regulation: Significant Impediment to Effective Competition, in Particular as the Result of the Creation or Strengthening of a Dominant Position 5 Economic Power under Article 101(3)(b) TFEU: The Condition of Not Eliminating Competition in Respect of a Substantial Part of the Market 6 Assessment of Economic Power under Article 101(3)(b)(II) 7 Collective Dominant Position in General 8 Oligopolistic Interdependence and Dominant Oligopolistic Position in Relation to Articles 101 and 102 TFEU and Regulation 139/2004(I) 9 Oligopolistic Interdependence and Dominant Oligopolistic Position in Relation to Articles 101 and 102 TFEU and Regulation 139/2004 (II) 10 Expressly Collusive or Pure Collusive Dominant Position in European Competition Law Bibliography Index

About the Author :
Luis Ortiz Blanco is a partner with Garrigues and a Visiting Professor of EU Competition and Trade Procedures at the College of Europe (Bruges).

Review :
As the European Commission's enforcement policy moves towards an economic approach, the identification of market power and how to deal with it is of immense importance. Market Power in EU Antitrust provides a comprehensive, timely and significant contribution to this difficult task by presenting a series of intriguing ideas. ...a very welcome addition to the literature. The book delves beneath the surface to offer new insights into the deeper issues of the principles below. While the scope of the book is limited to market power across the main European competition law provisions and the merger regulation, it has all the qualities one would hope to find in a first-rate modern legal treatise: it is scholarly, opinionated, thorough, clear and authoritative. -- Liza Lovdahl Gormsen European Competition Journal, Volume 9, Number 3 ...a valuable contribution for the enforcers of EU competition rules, ultimately the judicial authorities, which need not be expert economists. -- Vasiliki Brisimi European Law Review, Volume 38(2) The book contains a wealth of material and details...A very great deal of care has clearly been invested in the book and it is easy to find the relevant place. It is most welcome. -- Valentine Korah World Competition Law and Economics Review