The powers of the European Commission (EC) to investigate suspected infringements of European Union (EU) competition law are extensive and often intrusive. They include the power to request information and copies of documents, as well as to carry out searches of businesses and private premises. The EC also has powers to conduct sectoral investigations, or sector inquiries, although these are less well known and, to date, have been used less often.
Sector inquiries are neither fishing expeditions nor are they based on concrete evidence of specific infringements. However, they do usually lead to targeted investigations of specific companies. This means companies that fall within the scope of a sector investigation would be well advised to treat them with the same respect and caution as any other investigation of a suspected infringement of EU competition law.
