The European Commission today adopted the proposals for Council decisions to sign and conclude the EU-UK Competition Cooperation Agreement.
The Competition Cooperation Agreement will put in place a clear framework for cooperation on competition matters between, on the one side, the Commission and EU Member States' competition authorities and, on the other side, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority when enforcing EU competition rules. It will set out that important antitrust and merger investigations are brought to each other's attention. It will also allow the coordination of investigations between the jurisdictions involved when necessary, which on the EU side may involve the Commission or Member State competition authorities depending on the case, and set out clear principles of cooperation aimed at avoiding any conflicts between jurisdictions. Regarding the exchange of confidential information, the consent of the company providing the information will continue to be required.
The Competition Cooperation Agreement will be a 'supplementing agreement' to the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which provides for competition cooperation and coordination and foresees the possibility to enter into a separate agreement on competition cooperation.
Next steps
The agreement will enter into force after both the EU and the UK have finalised their ratification procedures. As a next step, the Council is invited to adopt a decision to formally sign the EU-UK Competition Cooperation Agreement. Thereafter, the Council is invited to adopt, a decision to conclude the agreement, which will also require the consent of the European Parliament. The conclusion decision by the Council will finalise the EU interinstitutional process.
Background
This agreement follows a Council Decision of June 2023 authorising the Commission to open negotiations with the UK. In October 2024 the Commission announced that both the Commission and the UK had finalised the negotiations on the competition cooperation agreement between the EU and the UK at technical level.
