Free Download: Excerpt-European Competition Laws: Denmark

Until October 1, 2000, competition law in Denmark was based on the Competition Act of 1997, which entered into force on January 1, 1998. At the time that it was enacted, the Act represented a significant change in Danish competition law because it brought the national law into conformity with the competition law of the European Commission through the introduction of the principle of prohibition, which replaced the principle of control that had prevailed in Denmark for more than sixty years. Most of the countries in Western Europe already had competition rules based on prohibition, and the Danish government wished to reconcile national competition law with the competition law of the European Union ("EU"). Moreover, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ("OECD"), in its 1992-1993 analysis of Denmark, had pointed out that the lack of competition in Denmark (along with the country's relatively high prices) was due to the fact that the preventive effect of the principle of control was simply too weak.

Consequently, on May 26, 2000, the Danish Parliament adopted several amendments to the Competition Act of 1997 (collectively and as subsequently amended, the "Competition Act").n4 The two most significant changes to the existing competition rules were:

(1) The introduction of mandatory merger control rules-the requirement that transactions satisfying certain thresholds be reported to the Danish competition authorities and approved before the transactions can be completed; and

(2) The provision of a legal basis for the Danish competition authorities to enforce Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty Establishing the European Union ("EC Treaty," now Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union ("TFEU")). The majority of the amendments, including the rules on mandatory merger control, entered into force on October 1, 2000....

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This free download has been taken from European Competition Laws (subscribers to lexis.com may access the treatise here / non-subscribers may purchase the treatise here), which contains practice-oriented, state-specific guidance from leading practitioners in their Member States-under the editorial direction of Frank L. Fine, a top expert on EU competition law. Whether you represent companies currently doing business in Europe or are advising clients planning European operations, now you can get authoritative, in-depth information on the competition laws of any EU Member State-quickly and easily-all in one convenient resource. European Competition Laws is the only treatise to present a systematic analysis of the substantive and procedural aspects of the competition laws of the European Community and its Member States. This comprehensive resource covers regulated practices and monopolies, mergers and acquisitions, and cooperation with other competition Authorities. With this treatise, readers will be able to analyze systematically the benefits and risks of filing (or defending) antitrust complaints under Article 101 or 102, or national competition rules, throughout the 27 Member States.