EU competition policy in action : COMP in action

EU competition policy aims to protect the efficient functioning of markets from competition distortions, whether originating from Member States (distortive State aid), market players (distortive unilateral or coordinated behaviour), or mergers that would significantly impede effective competition. This is done by enforcing competition rules, namely antitrust/cartels, merger control and State aid control when the Commission finds evidence of unlawful behaviour, and through actions aimed at ensuring that regulation takes competition duly into account among other public policy interests. However, competition is not an end in itself. It contributes to the efficient use of society's scarce res, technological development and innovation, a better choice of products and services, lower prices, higher quality and greater productivity in the economy as a whole. EU competition policy actively contributes to the wider Commission objectives, such as boosting jobs, growth and investment, a connected Digital Single Market, a resilient Energy Union with a forward-looking climate change policy, a deeper and fairer Internal Market with a strengthened industrial base and a deeper and fairer Economic and Monetary Union.