Commission and UK sign competition cooperation agreement

This first competition-specific agreement since Brexit will establish a clear framework for cooperation between, on the one hand, the Commission and the EU Member State competition authorities and, on the other, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority.

It aims to ensure smooth interactions between the EU and the UK on competition matters. In particular, it provides for mutual information on significant antitrust and merger investigations, and for the coordination of efforts where necessary. Competition authorities will still have to protect the confidentiality of shared information, and obtain the prior consent of the companies that provided it.

This agreement will supplement the more general EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. It will enter into force once the EU and the UK have completed their respective ratification procedures.