Europeanization of Competition Law: Principles and Values of Fair Competition in Free Market Economy in the EU and Association Agreements with Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia

Abstract

The chapter examines the EU’s sharing principles and values of fair competition within international agreements. Due to the process of glоbalization and liberalization of trade, EU-Ukraine, EU-Moldova, EU-Georgia bilateral economic relations are based currently on the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (DCFTAs). These preferential trade relations are matured in fair undistorted spirit. These DCFTAs are one of the most ambitious bilateral agreements that the EU has ever negotiated with a trading partner. We are focusing on comparison analysis specific ‘competition clauses’ in these Association Agreements. Within this category, the competition chapters are nevertheless very diverse. Domestic Ukrainian, Moldavian, and Georgian competition rules are developed under the European impact. The provisions on competition rules include some important differences as the Moldova and Georgia DCFTAs are less ambitious than the Ukraine DCFTA. The chapter consists of analysis of legislative enforcement and judicial practice within the implementation of competition rules in Moldova, Georgia, and Ukraine.