The European Commission is launching today a Call for Evidence and a public consultation inviting stakeholders to give feedback on the future of the EU procedures for the application of EU competition rules. Based on the results of the evaluation, completed in September 2024 with the publication of a Staff Working Document, the Commission has decided to launch the process for revising the relevant rules, notably with the aim of keeping up with transformative changes such as digitalisation of the economy. All interested stakeholders can express their views by 2 October 2025.


Need for a revision


On 5 September 2024, the Commission published a Staff Working Document summarising the findings of the evaluation of Regulation 1/2003 and Regulation 773/2004 (together the ‘Regulations'). The evaluation showed that the Regulations have generally achieved their objective of effective, efficient and uniform application of EU competition rules, and that they continue to have EU added value and remain relevant. At the same time, the evaluation identified several areas for further reflection, including a need for faster investigations and adjustment of the Commission's enforcement tools to keep up with transformative changes such as digitalisation. The evaluation also showed that, while the experience of parallel enforcement of EU competition rules with national competition authorities has been a success, the system could still benefit from some optimisation.


Based on these findings, the Commission concluded that a legislative revision would be necessary to address certain issues identified during the evaluation process.


Focus areas for the revision


The call for evidence will focus on the main areas the Commission is currently considering revising in the Regulations, with the objective of enhancing effective and speedy antitrust enforcement. This includes:

the Commission's investigative powers (specifically inspections, requests for information and interviews); certain aspects of its decision-making powers (specifically how we can adopt interim measures and commitments); the process for granting access to the Commission's file, which is currently burdensome for parties, information providers and the Commission; the procedure for the participation of complainants and third parties in competition investigations; and
how to optimise co-enforcement with national competition authorities and national courts.



The public consultation questionnaire will seek stakeholders' views on the reform options, including detailed feedback on the costs and benefits of such possible reform options.


Stakeholder consultation and feedback


The Call for Evidence and public consultation will be open for 12 weeks, until 2 October 2025.


This Commission invites all stakeholders to express their views on the proposed policy options for reform. It will publish a summary of the main points and conclusions on the Commission's ‘Have Your Say' platform, where contributions will also be available. The Commission will also engage with EU national competition authorities via the European Competition Network (‘ECN').


Later this year, the Commission will host a workshop, diving deeply into key issues based on the feedback gathered through the Call for Evidence and public consultation.


The feedback received from the consultation activities will inform the Commission's reform proposal. The Commission aims at adopting the draft legislative proposal to revise Regulation 1/2003 and at publishing an Impact Assessment Report by September 2026.


Background


Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (‘TFEU') prohibits agreements between companies that restrict competition. Article 102 TFEU prohibits abusive conduct by companies that have a dominant position on a particular market.


Regulation 1/2003 and Regulation 773/2004 establish a procedural framework aimed at ensuring the effective and uniform application of Articles 101 and 102 of the TFEU. At the time of its adoption, Regulation 1/2003 represented a major reform of the way EU antitrust rules were enforced. In particular, it: (i) introduced a system of direct application of antitrust rules, (ii) empowered Member States to apply all aspects of the rules, (iii) strengthened the cooperation between the Commission and the national competition authorities, and (iv) enhanced the enforcement tools for the Commission to be better equipped to detect and address breaches of the EU antitrust rules.


The evaluation of Regulation 1/2003 was part of a broader review in EU competition law launched in recent years. It also followed the Five-Year and Ten-Year reports on the functioning of Regulation 1/2003.


Stay informed


For more information, visit the Commission's competition website and the dedicated Regulation 1/2003 revision webpage.Quote(s)

 After more than twenty years of successful enforcement, it is time to adapt our antitrust toolkit to keep up with today’s challenges. The revision of Regulation 1/2003 will shape EU competition policy ensuring we are equipped with the best tools possible for modernised and effective antitrust enforcement— ensuring that our competition rules continue to deliver benefits for the internal market, citizens and businesses in a rapidly-evolving economy. Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive TransitionRelated topicsCompetition Antitrust Print friendly pdfCommission seeks feedback for the revision of EU antitrust enforcement framework(45.787 KB - PDF)DownloadContacts for mediaLea ZUBERSpokespersonPhone+32 2 29 56298Maillea.zuber@ec.europa.eu   Sara SIMONINIPress OfficerPhone+32 2 29 83367Mailsara.simonini@ec.europa.eu   If you do not work for a media organisation, you are welcome to contact the EU through Europe Direct in writing or by calling 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11.IP/25/1795

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European Commission Invites Stakeholder Feedback on Antitrust Rule Revisions

The European Commission has launched a Call for Evidence and a public consultation to gather feedback on the future of EU competition rules. This initiative is part of a broader effort to revise the enforcement framework established by Regulation 1/2003 and Regulation 773/2004, with the aim of adapting to transformative changes in the economy, particularly digitalization.

The evaluation of the existing regulations, completed in September 2024, indicated that while the regulations have generally succeeded in ensuring effective and uniform application of EU competition rules, there are areas that require improvement. Key issues identified include the need for faster investigations and the optimization of enforcement tools to keep pace with rapid economic changes.

The Commission's focus for the revision will include enhancing investigative powers, streamlining decision-making processes, and improving the participation of complainants and third parties in investigations. Stakeholders are encouraged to provide their views on these proposed reforms, which will be collected through a public consultation open until October 2, 2025.

Feedback from this consultation will inform the Commission's legislative proposal, with a draft expected by September 2026. The Commission aims to ensure that the revised regulations continue to deliver benefits for the internal market, citizens, and businesses in a rapidly evolving economic landscape.



European Commission Invites Stakeholder Feedback on Antitrust Rule Revisions

The European Commission is seeking public input on proposed revisions to EU antitrust enforcement rules, aiming to adapt to the digital economy and enhance investigation efficiency.