Competition Policy

Abstract

Italy has made progress implementing the recommendations of the 2001 OECD Report on Regulatory Reform in Italy, to eliminate unnecessary regulatory constraints on competition about price, entry, and quality. The Bersani reforms in 2006 and 2007 removed many constraints, and in a way that showed how reform benefits consumers, shifting the terms of debate about reform priorities. These reforms have vindicated the Antitrust Authority’s programme of policy study and advocacy, since the Authority’s reports supplied the evidence to justify and explain them. Other recommendations have received less attention. Including competition policy in the legislative quality process remains an aspiration. The issue of competition in local public services remains open. Antitrust enforcement has improved in some of the recommended directions, notably stronger sanctions and more flexibility to permit adopting a formal leniency programme. This chapter discusses timetables for merger review in the light of European practice.