Admission requirements
Evident basic knowledge of European law.
Description
Over the past 50 years, EU competition law has developed into a substantial body of law, comprising directly applicable rules that are of immediate concern to business lawyers and management. This course offers an introductory overview of the basic rules, principles, and procedures EU competition law relies upon to structure businesses’ market behaviour. To that extent, it first outlines the goals of EU competition law and the legal concepts relied upon to attain those goals. By emphasizing the need for ‘workable competition’ within the ‘internal market’, EU competition law establishes a level playing field in accordance with which businesses and Member States have to structure their activities in the marketplace. EU competition law in that regard distinguishes between rules directly addressing private market operators and rules structuring state intervention in the marketplace. In both instances, the EU – and most notably the European Commission – has been endowed with significant enforcement and sanctioning powers. The course subsequently addresses the different specific competition law rules in more detail. It distinguishes between the prohibition and regulation of restrictive practices, the prohibition and regulation of abuse of a dominant economic position, the ex ante regulation of envisaged mergers and acquisitions, and the regulation of state interventions in the marketplace
Course objectives
Objectives of the course
The objective of this course is to introduce students to the basic rules, principles and procedures of EU competition law and to equip them with the necessary skills to evaluate to what extent particular market behaviour can be potentially captured by the EU competition rules.
Achievement levels After completing this course, you will be able:
to demonstrate a good understanding of the rationale of EU competition law;
to identify and apply the key concepts relied upon in EU competition law (undertaking, interstate trade, restriction, abuse...) in simplified hypothetical and real-life case settings;
to distinguish and choose among one or more of the five branches of EU competition law in a particular case situation (restrictive practices, abuse of dominant position, merger control or state intervention through aid or State-owned businesses) and to argue in favour of a case solution accordingly;
to independently find the most relevant case law and Commission decisions that help you develop a well-structured competition law analysis of a given problem.
Timetable
The timetable of this course can be found in uSis.
Mode of instruction
Lectures
Number of (2 hour) lectures: 6
Names of lecturers: Prof. S.C.G. Van den Bogaert, Dr. B. Van Rompuy
Required preparation by students: Students are expected to be familiar with the prescribed materials.
Seminars
Number of (2 hour) seminars: 6
Names of instructors: V. Yefremova LL.M.
Required preparation by students: Students should read the prescribed materials and are required to prepare the exercises.
Other methods of instruction None
Assessment method
Examination form(s)
A written exam, counting for 80% towards the final grade.
A practical assignment (writing a case note of maximum 2.000 words), counting for 20% towards the final grade.
Students failing the exam are entitled to sit a re-examination. Depending on the number of students failing the exam, the re-sit may take the form of an oral exam. The 20% grade for the practical assignment will remain valid for the re-sit. If you have not passed the course by the end of the academic year, partial grades for the exam or practical assignment are no longer valid.
Blackboard
More information on this course is offered in Blackboard.
Reading list
Obligatory course materials
- Piet-Jan Slot and Martin Farley, An Introduction to Competition Law, 2nd edition (Hart Publishing, Oxford 2017).
Course information guide:
- see Blackboard
Reader:
- see Blackboard
Registration
Students have to register for courses and exams through uSis.
Exchange students have priority and will be registered for the course first. Any remaining seats will be available for students from Leiden University and other Dutch Universities.
Contact information
Coordinator: Dr. B. Van Rompuy
Work address: KOG, room B1.21
Telephone number: 071-527 1344
Institution/division
Institute: Public Law
Department: European Law
Room number secretary: KOG, room B1.11
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 09:00 – 17:00
Telephone number secretary: 071-527 3596
Remarks
None