Anticompetitive Behaviour of Undertakings - Case Studies

European Union's competition rules apply to all entities developing economic activities within the Member States. Companies whose market behaviours do not comply with EU regulation regarding competition rules take the risk to be fined and face the negative consequences of their actions (the legal actions of those affected by anticompetitive practices; image injuries, both connected to trade partners and to their customers and so on). Cartels as well as the arrangements between competitors do represent violations of competition law and they are always under the monitoring of competition authorities. Among the cartels, the most damaging for the development of a normal competitive environment, are the so-called “hard core cartels” which could be the price fixing cartels, the output restricting cartels, those of market sharing or of participation in bid rigging. The aim of this research paper is to present the main legal issues concerning the competition law as well as three case studies on anticompetitive practices in terms of cartels as they appear at the European Union's level.