Hearing Officers in competition proceedings conducted by the European Commission for the implementation of Article 101 and 102 TFEU

Abstract

The article analyzes the role played by the Hearing Officer in competition proceedings conducted by the European Commission to implement Article 101 and 102 TFEU. Currently, the Hearing Officer is a guarantor of the effective exercise of procedural rights in the course of all competition proceedings before the EC, while contributing to the objectivity, transparency and efficiency of the proceedings. The article also discusses the proposals to change the scope of the powers of the Hearing Officer, as reported in doctrine and literature, and refers to the possibility and legitimacy of introducing such institution into Polish competition law.