| dc.description.abstract | The year 2018 marked the 60thanniversary of the entry into force of the Treaty on the European Economic Community, the foundation for today’s European Union. Today, the European Union, with its 24.5 million small, medium-sized and large companies competing to serve its 500 million consumers, continues to provide a vibrant internal market contributing to the competiveness of EU industry and sustainable development of the European economy based on competitive social market values. From the very beginning, the EU has had Treaty rules1that gave the Commission the power to protect fair, undistorted competition in the internal market. EU competition rules lay down a well-defined legal framework for companies to do business in the internal market, enabling businesses of all sizes to compete fairly. This legal framework has evolved during the past six decades but adheres strictly to the principle of the rule of law under the close scrutiny by the European courts. The Commission rigorously applies the principles of non-discrimination, procedural fairness, transparency, predictability, the right to be heard and the protection of confidentiality in its daily enforcement practice. The predictability and credibility of the EU’s system has made the Commission one of the leading and most influential competition authorities in the world. |
