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The European Merger Regime
Author(s) -
Cini Michelle
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
policy studies journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1541-0072
pISSN - 0190-292X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1541-0072.2002.tb02144.x
Subject(s) - optimal distinctiveness theory , compromise , underpinning , european union , context (archaeology) , enforcement , political science , merger control , order (exchange) , political economy , international trade , economics , law , geography , engineering , psychology , civil engineering , commission , archaeology , finance , psychotherapist
Even though the European Union's merger regime has been warmly received, three distinct critiques of European policy in this field are identified. In acknowledging these critiques, this article reviews EU merger policy and suggests ways in which it might be reformed in the future. However, in order to understand the particular form that the policy now takes, emphasis must be placed on the context within which the European model of merger control has evolved. Three factors are considered: the rationale underpinning the policy; the origins of the policy as a hard‐fought compromise among the (then) 12 members of the Union; and the role played by supranational actors in the implementation and enforcement of the policy. These three European characteristics of the policy help to explain the distinctiveness of the EU model.