The European Merger Regime |
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| Authors: | Michelle Cini |
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| Institution: | Michelle Cini is Senior Lecturer in Policy and Jean Monnet Lecturer in EC Studies in the Department of Politics, University of Bristol, United Kingdom. She has published a number books and articles on the European Commission and on the European Union's competition policy, including (with L. McGowan) Competition Policy in the European Union;(1998) (London: Palgrave). |
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| Abstract: | Even though the European Union's merger regime has been warmly received, three distinct critiques of European policy in this field are identified. In acknowledging these critiques, this article reviews EU merger policy and suggests ways in which it might be reformed in the future. However, in order to understand the particular form that the policy now takes, emphasis must be placed on the context within which the European model of merger control has evolved. Three factors are considered: the rationale underpinning the policy; the origins of the policy as a hard-fought compromise among the (then) 12 members of the Union; and the role played by supranational actors in the implementation and enforcement of the policy. These three European characteristics of the policy help to explain the distinctiveness of the EU model. |
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