starting October 6, 2021
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.
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. Students are required to register on e-learning platform.
Course textbook:
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 2021- selected chapters (see moodle)
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.
- European Commission, Case AT.39740 Google Search (Shopping)
Other cases may be added in class.
Schedule of lessons
(Wednesday 14,00 – 16,00; Thursday-Friday 12,00-14,00)
| Class |
Topic |
| 6 Oct |
The origins of competition law |
| 7 Oct |
Basic economic principles |
| 8 Oct |
Market definition and market power |
| 14 Oct |
Article 101(1) TFEU |
| 15 Oct |
Article 101 TFEU and Section 1, Sherman Act |
| 20 Oct |
Article 102 TFEU |
| 27 Oct |
Article 102 TFEU and Section 2, Sherman Act |
| 28 Oct |
Cartels and oligopoly |
| 29 Oct |
Horizontal agreements |
| 3 Nov |
Horizontal agreements |
| 4 Nov |
Vertical agreements |
| 5 Nov |
Vertical agreements |
| 10 Nov |
Case presentations |
| 11 Nov |
Two-sided markets, platforms and antitrust |
| 12 Nov |
Guest lecture |
| 17 Nov |
Case presentations |
| 18 Nov |
Predatory pricing |
| 19 Nov |
Guest lecture |
| 24 Nov |
Refusal to supply - Case presentations |
| 25 Nov |
Margin squeeze |
| 26 Nov |
Tying and bundling; discounts and rebates |
| 1 Dec |
Case presentations |
| 2 Dec |
Exploitative abuses: excessive pricing |
| 3 Dec |
Competition law in digital markets: Google Search and Google Android cases |
| 9 Dec |
Mergers |
| 10 Dec |
Private enforcement |
| 15 Dec |
Case presentations |
| 16 Dec |
Conclusive lecture |
The schedule is indicative. Slight changes to this scheme may occasionally occur and will be communicated in due time during lessons and on the website.