engleski

The Infringement of the Rules on Free Competition and Its Impact on Consumers: the Example of the European Community

The free trade and competition are treated as basic principles of free-market economy. Thanks to them enterprises can act independently trying to make their offers more attractive and at the same time to extend their outlet. The great number of different economic entities acting on the same market, offering similar products or services, leads to the competition over their clients . Thus, competition is a kind of „ market game” in which enterprises try to gain dominance over their competitors. This game can be advantageous, bringing lower prices and better quality of products. However, this rivalry over markets is not always fair – enterprises can use practices which infringe free competition. Most of all, they can conclude anti-competitive agreements or abuse their dominant positions on the market. Therefore, both the Member States and the European Community have special regulations which protect free competition.

consumers, free competition, European Union

Dr. Justyna Maliszewska-Nienartowicz je vanjski suradnik na projektu. Profesorica je prava u Jean Monnet Centre for European Studies Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland