Fall Semester (October 1 - December 18, 2020)
Course
European Competition Law 2020
Prof. Margherita Colangelo
7 ECTS
(Prof. Margherita Colangelo, Ph.D., LL.M.)
starting October 1, 2020
Wednesday h. 14,00-16,00; Thursday – Friday h. 12,00-14,00
Course description:
This course aims at providing the fundamental notions of competition law as a central area in the EU Single Market policy. To this end, it will focus on the competition provisions that are directly applicable to companies throughout the European Union, i.e. the prohibition of cartels and restrictive practices, the prohibition of abuses of dominant position and merger control.
More in detail, it will cover:
- The objectives of competition law;
- Essentials of US antitrust law;
- The role of competition rules in the EU;
- Market power, market definition and barriers to entry;
- Article 101 TFEU;
- Article 102 TFEU;
- Competition law and regulation;
- Public and private enforcement;
- Mergers.
The course intends to adopt a comparative approach (mainly with regard to the US system) and will involve the study of the main relevant case-law and recent policy documents, devoting particular attention to digital markets.
Objectives
The course intends to introduce students in an extremely important area of EU law. In particular, it is aimed towards students being able to: i) demonstrate knowledge of EU competition law, taking a critical look at competition policy and its development; ii) deal with the primary sources of EU competition law (legislation, Commission decisions, CJEU/GC rulings); iii) carry out a presentation and a discussion on a competition law topic; iv) simulate a dispute.
Course Learning Activities
The course consists of lectures on the main subjects of EU competition law, followed by presentations that are meant to support the lectures and encourage interactive student participation. A number of guest lectures (held by professionals, regulators and experts) is included in the course.
Assessment tools
Student evaluation will be based on class work and class participation (i.e. oral presentations given during the semester) and a final written exam.
Attendance policy
Class attendance is compulsory.
Lessons will be held online through Teams app (in order to get access, students must use their institutional e-mail address - @stud.uniroma3.it). Students are required to register on e-learning platform (
https://elearning2.giur.uniroma3.it/course/view.php?id=769) in order to get access to lessons and materials.
In addition to cases examined during lessons, a selection of readings will be recommended, mainly from the following textbook:
R. Whish – D. Bailey, Competition Law, Oxford University Press 2015 (8th ed.), as follows: Chapter 1; Chapter 2 paras. 1, 2, 4; Chapters 3, 4, 5; Chapter 8, paras. 1, 2; Chapter 13, paras. 1, 2, 3, 4, 8; Chapter 14, paras. 1, 2, 3, 4; Chapter 15, para. 3; Chapter 16, paras. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8; Chapter 17, paras. 1, 2, 3, 4; Chapter 18 (excluding subparagraphs dedicated solely to the UK); similar chapters in the new edition.
Main cases:
- Case C67/13 P, Groupement des cartes bancaires v Commission;
- Case C519/04 P, David MecaMedina and Igor Majcen v Commission;
- Case COMP/AT.39847, EBOOKS;
- Case C439/09, Pierre Fabre DermoCosmétique SAS v Président de l'Autorité de la Concurrence and Others;
- Case C230/16, Coty Germany GmbH v Parfümerie Akzente GmbH;
- Case C241/91 P, Radio Telefis Eireann (RTE) and Independent Television Publications Ltd (ITP) v Commission;
- Case C7/97, Oscar Bronner GmbH & Co. KG v Mediaprint Zeitungs und Zeitschriftenverlag GmbH & Co. KG, Mediaprint Zeitungsvertriebsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG and Mediaprint Anzeigengesellschaft mbH & Co. KG;
- Case C95/04 P, British Airways v Commission;
- Case C202/07 P, France Télécom SA v Commission;
- Case C52/09, Konkurrensverket v TeliaSonera Sverige AB;
- Case C23/14, Post Danmark A/S v Konkurrencerådet;
- Joined Cases C295/04 to C-298/04, Vincenzo Manfredi v Lloyd Adriatico Assicurazioni SpA (C295/04), Antonio Cannito v Fondiaria Sai SpA (C-296/04) and Nicolò Tricarico (C-297/04) and Pasqualina Murgolo (C-298/04) v Assitalia SpA;
- Case C453/99, Courage Ltd v Bernard Crehan and Bernard Crehan v Courage Ltd and Others;
- Case AT.39530 (Microsoft – Tying);
- Case No COMP/M.7217 Facebook/ Whatsapp;
- Case C179/16, F. HoffmannLa Roche Ltd and Others v Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato.
Schedule of lessons
(Wednesday 14,00 – 16,00; Thursday-Friday 12,00-14,00)
| Class |
Topic |
| 1 Oct |
The origins of competition law |
| 2 Oct |
Basic economic principles |
| 7 Oct |
Market definition and market power |
| 8 Oct |
Article 101(1) TFEU |
| 9 Oct |
Article 101(1) TFEU |
| 14 Oct |
Article 101 TFEU and Section 1, Sherman Act |
| 15 Oct |
Article 102 TFEU |
| 16 Oct |
Article 102 TFEU and Section 2, Sherman Act |
| 21 Oct |
Cartels and oligopoly |
| 22 Oct |
Horizontal agreements |
| 23 Oct |
Vertical agreements |
| 28 Oct |
Guest lecture - tbc |
| 29 Oct |
Vertical agreements |
| 30 Oct |
Predatory pricing |
| 4 Nov |
Exclusive purchasing; Discounts and rebates |
| 5 Nov |
Tying and bundling |
| 6 Nov |
Guest lecture |
| 11 Nov |
Refusal to supply – Margin squeeze |
| 12 Nov |
Guest lecture - tbc |
| 13 Nov |
Competition law and pharmaceutical markets |
| 18 Nov |
Exploitative abuses: excessive pricing |
| 19 Nov |
Two-sided markets, platforms and antitrust |
| 20 Nov |
Competition law in digital markets – part I |
| 25 Nov |
Competition law in digital markets – part II |
| 26 Nov |
Guest lecture - tbc |
| 27 Nov |
Private enforcement |
| 2 Dec |
Mergers |
| 3 Dec |
Conclusive lecture |
Slight changes to this scheme may occasionally occur and will be communicated in due time during lessons and on the Department website.