During the past few years and particularly in 2006, the European Commission (EC) has seriously tightened its cartel policy. At the same time, cracking down on cartels has become a more two-pronged approach: increasing fines on the one hand and strengthening the EC’s leniency policy on the other.
Already back in 2004 the then newly elected European Commissioner for Competition, Neelie Kroes, expressed her strong intention to combat cartels and proclaimed this as one of her top priorities. At mid-term of Kroes’ office, it is worth taking a closer look.
