Competition rules in the EEA

Competition law enables markets to work effectively for the benefit of consumers. ESA’s role is to help ensure that companies operating in the EFTA States abide by the EEA competition rules so consumers can benefit from competitive prices and better quality as well as choice of goods and services. 

The EEA competition rules are equivalent to the EU competition rules and prohibit:

• Anticompetitive coordination between companies, such as agreements and concerted practices that restrict or distort competition (Article 53). These may include cartels to fix prices or to limit or share markets to keep prices higher.
• Firms abusing their dominant market position (Article 54). These may include dominant firms engaging in certain exclusionary or predatory practices aimed at eliminating competitors from the market, and/or applying pricing or other commercial practices that may directly exploit consumers.

In addition, the rules provide for a system for the control of mergers and acquisitions that may impede effective competition within the EEA territory.

In the sub-sections of this page, you will find the legal framework and guidance underpinning the EEA competition rules, further information about ESA’s jurisdiction, information on leniency programme/reporting cartels and more.