Publication: Distribution of competences between the commission and the national authorities of member states in EC competition law
Abstract
Avrupa Topluluğu rekabet hukukunun uygulanmasında ulusal otoriteler ile Komisyon arasındaki yetki dağılımı bu tezin temel konusunu oluşturmaktadır. Bu kapsamda sözkonusu yetki dağılımının nasıl olduğunun tespit edilebilmesi için öncelikle Topluluk rekabet hukukunun ne zaman ve nerede uygulandığının tespit edilmesi gerekmektedir. Bu tespit, Topluluk rekabet hukukunun uygulanmasında merkezi rol oynayan Komisyon'un bu alandaki yetkisinin sınırlarının ve yetkiyi kazanma anının belirlenebilmesi açısından da önem taşımaktadır. Bir başka deyişle, Topluluk rekabet hukukunun uygulanma şartlarının oluşmadığı yerde ve zamanda Komisyon da yetkili olamayacak, bu durumda, eğer şartları mevcutsa, ulusal otoriteler ulusal rekabet hukuklarını uygulamakla yükümlü olacaklardır. Avrupa Topluluğu içinde teşebbüsler arasındaki rekabeti kısıtlamayı amaçlayan ya da kısıtlayıcı etki doğuran herhangi bir anlaşma, teşebbüs birliği kararı ya da uyumlu eylem ortaya çıktığında, Topluluk hukukunun sözkonusu hukuka aykırı eyleme uygulanabilir olması ya da Komisyon'un bu alanda yetki kazanması, Avrupa Topluluğu Anlaşmasının 81 ve 82 inci maddelerinde yer alan şartların herbir hüküm açısından ayrı ayrı olmak üzere birarada bulunmasına bağlıdır. Ulusal rekabet hukukları ile Topluluk rekabet hukukunu oluşturan unsurlar arasındaki farklılıkların, özellikle yetki ikamesi (subsidiarity) ve yerinden yönetim (decentralisation) kavramlarının gündeme gelmesi ile birlikte artan uyumlaştırma çalışmaları sonucunda büyük ölçüde ortadan kalktığı gözönünde bulundurulacak olursa Topluluk hukukunun uygulanabilirliği açısından kilit kavramın üye devletler arasındaki ticaretin etkilenmesi olduğu ortaya çıkmaktadır. Ancak teşebbüsler arasındaki herhangi bir kısıtlayıcı uygulamaya ilişkin olarak diğer şartların mevcudiyetinin yanında üye devletler arasındaki ticaretin etkilenmesi şartının da karşılanmış olması ulusal rekabet hukukunun sözkonusu rekabet ihlaline uygulanamayacağı anlamına gelmemektedir. Nitekim rekabet hukukunun ulusal rekabet hukuku ile birlikte ve aynı anda uygulanması mümkündür. Ne var ki, her iki hukuk sisteminin birarada uygulanabilme olanağı, aynı uyuşmazlık konusunda, hem Komisyon hem de farklı üye devletlerdeki ulusal rekabet otoriteleri tarafından birbirleri ile çelişen kararların ortaya çıkmasına yol açabilecek, bu da Topluluk hukukunun korumakta olduğu Topluluk menfaatlerinin zedelenmesi tehlikesini beraberinde getirecektir. İşte bu noktada, topluluk hukuku ile ulusal hukuk sistemleri ve dolayısıyla Topluluk kurumları ile ulusal kurumlar arasındaki ilişkiyi yönlendiren ve Topluluk hukukunu ulusal hukuk sitemleri karşısında üstün kılan üstünlük (supremacy) ve öncelik (primacy) prensipleri devreye girmektedir. Bununla birlikte ulusal hukuk ve Topluluk hukukunun birbirinden farklı amaçlara hizmet ettikleri kabul edildiğinde sözkonusu prensiplerin ne dereceye kadar uygulanabileceği konusunda da tartışmalar mevcuttur. Komisyon, 1999 yılında yayınlamış olduğu Beyaz Rapor ile bireysel muafiyet tanıma üzerindeki tekel yetkisinden ulusal otoriteler lehine vazgeçme iradesini ortaya koymuştur. Bu rapora dayalı olarak hazırlanmış olan Topluluk Sözleşmesinin 81 ve 82 inci maddelerinde yer alan rekabet kurallarının uygulanmasına ilişkin 16 Aralık 2002 tarihli ve 1/ 2003 sayılı yeni Konsey Tüzüğü'nün 1 Mayıs 2002 tarihinde yürürlüğe girmesi ile birlikte ulusal otoritelerin Topluluk rekabet hukuku uygulama alanındaki yetkileri ciddi ölçüde genişlemiş olacaktır.
ABSTRAKT (en fazla 250 sözcük) The distribution of competences between the Commission and national authorities in the application of EC competition law constitutes the main subject of this thesis. In this context, in order to determine how this distribution of competences takes place, first, it should be determined when and where the EC competition law is applied. This determination is of great importance also to reveal the limits of the competence that belongs to the Commission who plays a central role in the field of Community competition law application and to reveal the time when it gains this competence. In other words, where and/ or when the conditions are not fulfilled for application of the Community competition law, the Commission will not be competent authority. In this case, if their specific conditions are fulfilled, the national authorities will be obliged to apply the national competition laws. In order for the Community law to be applicable to an illegal agreement, decision by an association of undertakings or concerted practice, which has as its object or effect the restriction of competition between the undertakings within the Common Market, or in order for the Commission to be the competent authority, all conditions stipulated in Articles 81 and 82 of the EC Treaty should be fulfilled together as separately in respect of each provision. Taking into account of that the differences between the elements constituting national competition laws and the Community competition law have been disappeared to a great extent as a result of increasing harmonisation works with the subsidiarity and decentralisation concepts coming into existence, the effect on trade between Member States has become the key notion as to the applicability of EC law. However, fulfilment of the condition related to the effect on trade between Member States with the existence of other relevant conditions with respect to the any restrictive practice between the undertakings does not preclude the application of national law to that competition infringement. As a matter of fact, the application of the EC competition law with national competition law concurrently is possible. On the other hand, the opportunity of co-application of these two separate law systems might cause conflicting decisions not only between national authorities and the Commission but also between the national authorities of different Member States, and this situation paves the way to the danger of distortion of Community interests protected by the EC law. At this stage, the principle of supremacy and the principle of primacy, which govern the relations between the EC and national law systems, consequently Community and national authorities, and which give priority to the EC law vis-à-vis the national laws of Member States, come into concern. Nevertheless, since it is accepted that the EC law and national laws serve to different purposes, there have been discussions over the extent to which these principles are applicable for a while. The Commission showed its will to give up its monopoly over granting individual exemption in favour of national authorities through the White Paper issued in 1999. With coming into force of the new Council Regulation (EC) No 1/ 2003 of 16 December 2002 on the implementation of the rules on competition laid down in Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty, which was prepared on the basis of White Paper, the competences of the national authorities in the application of EC competition law will be broaden to a great extent.
ABSTRAKT (en fazla 250 sözcük) The distribution of competences between the Commission and national authorities in the application of EC competition law constitutes the main subject of this thesis. In this context, in order to determine how this distribution of competences takes place, first, it should be determined when and where the EC competition law is applied. This determination is of great importance also to reveal the limits of the competence that belongs to the Commission who plays a central role in the field of Community competition law application and to reveal the time when it gains this competence. In other words, where and/ or when the conditions are not fulfilled for application of the Community competition law, the Commission will not be competent authority. In this case, if their specific conditions are fulfilled, the national authorities will be obliged to apply the national competition laws. In order for the Community law to be applicable to an illegal agreement, decision by an association of undertakings or concerted practice, which has as its object or effect the restriction of competition between the undertakings within the Common Market, or in order for the Commission to be the competent authority, all conditions stipulated in Articles 81 and 82 of the EC Treaty should be fulfilled together as separately in respect of each provision. Taking into account of that the differences between the elements constituting national competition laws and the Community competition law have been disappeared to a great extent as a result of increasing harmonisation works with the subsidiarity and decentralisation concepts coming into existence, the effect on trade between Member States has become the key notion as to the applicability of EC law. However, fulfilment of the condition related to the effect on trade between Member States with the existence of other relevant conditions with respect to the any restrictive practice between the undertakings does not preclude the application of national law to that competition infringement. As a matter of fact, the application of the EC competition law with national competition law concurrently is possible. On the other hand, the opportunity of co-application of these two separate law systems might cause conflicting decisions not only between national authorities and the Commission but also between the national authorities of different Member States, and this situation paves the way to the danger of distortion of Community interests protected by the EC law. At this stage, the principle of supremacy and the principle of primacy, which govern the relations between the EC and national law systems, consequently Community and national authorities, and which give priority to the EC law vis-à-vis the national laws of Member States, come into concern. Nevertheless, since it is accepted that the EC law and national laws serve to different purposes, there have been discussions over the extent to which these principles are applicable for a while. The Commission showed its will to give up its monopoly over granting individual exemption in favour of national authorities through the White Paper issued in 1999. With coming into force of the new Council Regulation (EC) No 1/ 2003 of 16 December 2002 on the implementation of the rules on competition laid down in Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty, which was prepared on the basis of White Paper, the competences of the national authorities in the application of EC competition law will be broaden to a great extent.