This article builds on previous works examining whether private enforcement should be prioritised over public enforcement for breaches of competition law within the EC. Data is analysed from European and national competition authorities case law, and from applicable explanatory documentation. A new theory is laid out – that for the most efficient outcome both public and private enforcement should be utilised in different situations. Following the statement of intent in Preamble 6, Damages Directive 2014/104, ‘both tools are required to interact to ensure maximum effectiveness of the competition rules’. This article uncovers that the Directive follows the direction of the European competition policy. Case law such as Courage v Crehan, Courage v Crehan, and Kone demonstrate that private effects for damages should be at least as important as public enforcement strategies. Other solutions–such as costs, proportionate damages, and collective redress–would be more effective than the current design, since the Directive arguably does not go far enough to incentivise private actions for damages.
2 Case C-453/99 [2001] ECR I-6297.
3 Case C-360/09 [2011] ECR I-5161.
4 Case C-577/12 EU:C:2014:1317.
5 Directive 2014/104, hereinafter ‘The Directive’.
6 Commission, ‘Antitrust: Commission proposal for Directive to facilitate damages claims by victims of antitrust violations – frequently asked questions’, 17 April 2014, <http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO14-310_en.htm> accessed 20/11/2016 , 2-3.
7 Almunia, J., European Commissioner Competition (2009-2014), ‘Antitrust litigation – the way ahead’ Speech to MLex Seminar, London 23 October 2014, <http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-14-713_en.htm> accessed 20/11/2016.
8 See for example Moeschel, W., ‘Should Private Enforcement of Competition Law be Strengthened?’, GCLR 2013 6(1) 1-6.
9 Preamble 6.
10 Kwan, J., ‘The Damages Directive’, ECLR 2015, 36(11), 455.
11 Wils, W. P. J., ‘The Relationship Between Public Antitrust Enforcement and Private Actions for Damages’, World Competition 32(1) 2009, 5.
12 In the years 2006-2013, Commission, ‘Commission Proposes Legislation to Facilitate Damages Claims by Victims of Antitrust Violation’, 11 June 2013, <http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-525_en.htm> accessed 20/11/2016.
13 Odudu, O., ‘Development of Private Enforcement in the EU’ [2008] 53 Ant Bull 873 (1150 cases out of 1165 in 2006-7).
14 which contain the prohibitions regarding cartels and anti-competitive agreements, and abuse of a dominant position respectively.
15 By the end of 1998 this reached 1204 cases (EC Commission, Twenty-Eighth Annual Report on Competition Policy 1998 (Brussels, 1999).
16 D. I. Baker, ‘Revisiting History – What Have We Learned About Private Antitrust Enforcement That We Would Recommend to Others?’ (2004) 16(4) Loyola Consumer Law Review, 383.
17 the ability to receive full compensation for their loss, Article 3(2).
18 BRT v SABAM Case 127/73 [1974] ECR 51, 16.
19 Case C-453/99 [2001] ECR I-6297.
20 Whish, R. and Bailey, D., Competition Law, (8th ed, 2015, OUP) 314.
21 Ibid, 315.
22 Cases C-295/04 Vincenzo Manfredi v Lloyd Adriatico Assicurazioni SpA [2006] ECR I-6619.
23 Case C-360/09 [2011] ECR I-5161.
24 Kone AG v ÖBB-Infrastruktur Case C-557/12 EU:C:2014:1317.
25 Article 2 Regulation 1/2003.
26 Jones A. & Sufrin, B., EU Competition Law, (5th ed, 2014, OUP), at 923.
27 Commission, ‘Observations of the European Commission Pursuant to Article 15(3) of Regulation 1/2003, National Grid Electricity Transmission PLC’, 3 November 2011, <http://ec.europa.eu/competition/court/amicus_curiae_2011_national_grid_en.pdf> accessed 20/11/2016.
28 [2006] OJ C298/17.
29 Migani, C., ‘Directive 2014/104/EU’, GAR 2014 Issue 14, 82.
30 Stephan, A., ‘An Empirical Assessment of the European Leniency Notice’, 5 J. Competition L. & Econ. 537 (2009).
31 Böge, ‘Leniency Programs and The Private Enforcement of European Competition Law’, in Basedow (ed), Private Enforcement of EC Competition Law’ (Alphen aan den Rijn, 2007), 221.
32 See n 14.
33 Bundeswettbewehrbehörde v Donau Chemie AG Case C-536/11.
34 Kirst, P. and Van den Bergh, R., ‘The European Directive on Damages Actions: A Missed Opportunity to Reconcile Compensation of Victims and Leniency Objectives’, J. Competition L. & Econ., (December 2015) available at http://jcle.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2015/12/08/joclec.nhv033.full , accessed 07/01/2016, 5.
35 AG Bonn, Kein Zugangsrecht Kartellgeschädigter zu Kronzeugen unterlagen des BKartA, Jan 18, 2012 [NJW] 881.
36 Oberlandesgericht [OLG], Aug 22, 2012, Case V-4 Kart 5 + 6/M (Owi).
37 National Grid v ABB [2012] EWHC 869 (Ch) 34.
38 Article 10(5).
39 Article 10(2).
40 Article 11(5).
41 Article 11(2)-(4).
42 Article 9.
43 Kwan, J., 458.
44 Article 6(6).
45 Article 6(1).
46 Kirst, P and Van den Bergh, R., 10-11.
47 Article 12(1).
48 Article 13.
49 Drexl, J., Gallego, B.C., Enchelmaier, S., Mackenrodt, M., Podszun, R., ‘Comments of the Max Planck Institute’, IIC 2008, 39(7), 799-811.
50 Article 3.
51 Holmes, K., ‘Public Enforcement or Private Enforcement?’ ECLR 2004 25(1), 35.
52 Commission, ‘White Paper on Damages Actions for Breach of the EC antitrust rules’, COM (2008) 165, 2 April 2008, <http://ec.europa.eu/competition/antitrust/actionsdamages/files_white_paper/whitepaper_en.pdf> accessed 20/11/2016, 4.
53 Kirst and Van den Bergh, 17.
54 Kirst and Van den Bergh, 19.
55 Almunia, J., n 6.
56 Canenbley, C and Steinvorth, T, ‘Effective Enforcement of Competition Law’, J. European Comp. Law & Practice (2011), 2(4), 324.
57 Press Release, ‘Commissioner Kroes Welcomes the European Parliament’s Cross Party Support for Damages for Consumer and Business Victims of Competition Breaches’, Mar 26, 2009, available at http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-09-135_en.htm?locale=en , accessed 07/01/2016.
58 C(2013) 3539/3, 11.6.2013.
59 Case 09-893 (2011).
60 Case 10-277 (2011).
61 Such as collective redress and costs, as mentioned above.
62 Kirst, P and Van den Bergh, R., Ibid, 11.
63 Wils, W.P.J, Ibid, 5.
1 PhD Candidate, University of East Anglia Law School; Chair, Postgraduate Assembly, UEA Student Union.
(2017). International Competition Law: The Antitrust Damages Directive Feb 2016. Legal issues Journal, 5 (1), https://www.legalissuesjournal.com/article/05-01-13012017/
