Tag Archives: Applications to Reduce a Fine

Outline of the procedure

Outline of the procedure

Outline of the procedure

Once the application has been received, the first step should be to prepare a written acknowledgement of receipt (if the applicant so requests) (see Section 4.3.2 below).

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Second step is to verify whether the evidence submitted meets the conditions in points 8(a) or 8(b). If the conditions are met, this will be followed by the adoption of a Commission decision granting the undertaking conditional immunity from fines (see Section (87)).

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If the conditions are not met, the undertaking will receive a Commission decision rejecting conditional immunity (see Section (88)) and it may either withdraw the evidence disclosed for the purpose of its application or request that the Commission considers the information for a possible reduction of a fine. The undertaking might alternatively have applied for a reduction of fines already in its application for immunity. In such case it will be acknowledged that such application was received and the undertaking will be informed that the Commission will verify whether the evidence meets the conditions set out in Notice, and will inform it accordingly (see Section 5 below on applications for a reduction of a fine).

Other Considerations

In some cases the undertaking may be informed via the acknowledgement of receipt that immunity is not available (see Section 4.3.4). Exceptionally, it may be possible to treat the case by way of a “non processing” or a “no action letter” (see Section 4.3.8).

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References

  • Information about Outline of the procedure in the Antitrust Manual of Procedures for the application of Articles 101 and 102 TFEU (Internal DG Competition)

Notes

$$7%% For hypothetical applications, see Section 4.4 below.

Further Reading

  • Information about Outline of the procedure in “An Introduction to EU Competition Law”, Moritz Lorenz (Cambridge University Press)

Outline of the procedure

The procedural handling is similar to that for immediate applications for immunity (see Section 4.3 above).

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As in the case of immunity applications, the Leniency Notice provides that the Directorate- General for Competition will issue an acknowledgement of receipt of the application recording the date of the application, if requested by the applicant.

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Then, if the Commission comes to the preliminary conclusion that the evidence submitted constitutes significant added value, the Commission will issue a decision setting out its intention to apply a reduction of a fine within a specified band.

Other Considerations

The Commission must give a preliminary positive conclusion no later than the date on which a Statement of Objections is notified.

Resources

See Also

References

  • Information about Outline of the procedure in the Antitrust Manual of Procedures for the application of Articles 101 and 102 TFEU (Internal DG Competition)

Further Reading

  • Information about Outline of the procedure in EU Competition Procedure, 3rd. Edition, Edited by Luis Ortiz Blanco (Oxford University Press)

Granting a reduction of fines

Granting a reduction of fines

Decision indicating the Commission's intention to grant a reduction of fines

Once a preliminary conclusion has been reached that the evidence submitted constitutes significant added value, the Commission will issue a decision informing the applicant of its intention to apply a reduction of a fine within a certain band.

Resources

See Also

References

  • Information about Granting a reduction of fines in the Antitrust Manual of Procedures for the application of Articles 101 and 102 TFEU (Internal DG Competition)

Further Reading

  • Information about Granting a reduction of fines in EU Competition Procedure, 3rd. Edition, Edited by Luis Ortiz Blanco (Oxford University Press)

Acknowledgement of receipt

Acknowledgement of receipt

Acknowledgement of receipt

Timing: After the immunity application has been filed and a case number has been obtained (see Section 4.2 above), if so requested by the undertaking, DG Competition will acknowledge receipt of the application. This should preferably occur on the first working day after receipt of such request. In case of an oral application, it is recommended that the case team does not wait until the oral statement has been transcribed.

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Letter acknowledging receipt of the application: The acknowledgement is made by a letter. The acknowledgement of receipt confirms the date on which the undertaking submitted the information and evidence and, where appropriate, the time of the application (e.g. if several applications have been received in a short interval).

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Addressee: The acknowledgement can be addressed either to the applicant or, providing that the necessary power of attorney has been submitted, to its lawyer.

Other Considerations

Notification/sending of the letter in case of an oral application: In case of an oral application, if so requested by the applicant, the acknowledgement of receipt will not be sent but will be notified to the applicant or its lawyer at the Commission's premises. The applicant or its lawyer will have to sign a minute stating that the undertaking has been duly notified 1 .

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A separate acknowledgement of receipt should be prepared for each supplement of evidence received. If requested by the undertaking, an acknowledgment of receipt is prepared also for supplements of evidence it provides. If there are several new submissions made in a short timeframe, the acknowledgement of receipt can cover such several submissions. In that case, it is recommended that the acknowledgement of receipt specifies the date of receipt for each submission.

Resources

See Also

References

  • Information about Acknowledgement of receipt in the Antitrust Manual of Procedures for the application of Articles 101 and 102 TFEU (Internal DG Competition)

Notes


[Note 1]
The same applies to the decision granting conditional immunity. See Section 4.4.2 below.

Further Reading

  • Information about Acknowledgement of receipt in “An Introduction to EU Competition Law”, Moritz Lorenz (Cambridge University Press)

Acknowledgement of receipt

Timing: After the application has been filed, if so requested by the undertaking, DG Competition will acknowledge receipt of the application for a reduction of fine and of any subsequent submissions of evidence. The acknowledgement will be made either to the applicant or its lawyer (check that a power of attorney has been received).

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The letter and its notification: The acknowledgement is made by a letter signed by the responsible Director and it will confirm the date and, where appropriate, time of each submission. In case of an oral application, the procedure for notification of the acknowledgement of receipt is the same as for oral applications (see paragraph (83) above).

Resources

See Also

References

  • Information about Acknowledgement of receipt in the Antitrust Manual of Procedures for the application of Articles 101 and 102 TFEU (Internal DG Competition)

Further Reading

  • Information about Acknowledgement of receipt in EU Competition Procedure, 3rd. Edition, Edited by Luis Ortiz Blanco (Oxford University Press)