An Overview of the Recent Application of EU and National Competition Law by the Italian Competition Authority

Abstract

This chapter provides a general survey of the antitrust public enforcement in Italy during recent years. It emerges that efforts have been put to ascertain abuses that have been very rarely scrutinised in the past, such as abuses of dominant position through excessive prices. Moreover strict antitrust enforcement was necessary to avoid the possibility that cartels would undermine the positive implications of the more centralised approach in public purchasing which Italy has adopted. Alongside these lines of antitrust intervention, the Italian Competition Authority has often used its advocacy powers to ensure the role of competition in promoting dynamic markets and economic growth especially in the fields of the new digital and sharing economy.