On 25 February, the European Commission and the United Kingdom signed the EU-UK Competition Cooperation Agreement, establishing a dedicated framework for cooperation on competition matters between the European Commission, EU Member State competition authorities and the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority.
The agreement lays down key principles aimed at facilitating smooth interaction between the respective authorities, notably through the mutual notification of significant antitrust and merger investigations and the possibility to coordinate enforcement activities where appropriate. It also includes provisions to ensure the protection of confidential business information exchanged in the context of competition proceedings, subject to the consent of the companies concerned.
The new arrangement supplements the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement by providing a more structured basis for cooperation in the field of competition policy following the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. For operators involved in cross-border logistics and infrastructure markets, including port and terminal activities, effective coordination between regulatory authorities may contribute to greater legal predictability in cases involving mergers, joint ventures or market investigations with potential implications across EU and UK jurisdictions.
The agreement will enter into force once both parties have completed their respective ratification procedures, including the adoption of a Council decision and the consent of the European Parliament on the EU side.
