Competition and Business Activity in the European Union Competition and Business Activity in the European Union
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with the essential coordinates for understanding the fundamental characteristics of competition law in the European Union legal system. It focuses on the study of European competition law within the context of European Union policies and competences, its scope of application and its relationship with national competition law. More specifically, it analyses the regulation of restrictive agreements between undertakings, abuse of a dominant position in the EU internal market and state aid to undertakings. Some attention is also given to the legal regime governing mergers between undertakings, the application of competition law to public undertakings and undertakings entrusted with the operation of services of general economic interest, and the procedures for implementing competition law, with particular regard to the position and rights of undertakings involved in antitrust proceedings.
Expected learning outcomes
The course aims to highlight the objectives and practical application of European Union competition law, enabling students to acquire the essential legal knowledge needed to interpret and fully understand the complex regulations governing economic activities and business operations in the European internal market, including in the context of the relationship between the different competences of the Union and its Member States.
Lesson period: Second trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second trimester
Course syllabus
- European competition law between the policies and competences of the European Union; the scope of European competition law; the relationship between European competition law and national competition law;
- Cartels restricting competition;
- The abuse of dominant position;
- Merger discipline in European competition law;
- The application of EU competition law;
- The competition rules applicable to public undertakings and undertakings entrusted with the operation of services of general economic interest;
- The rules on State aid to undertakings.
- Cartels restricting competition;
- The abuse of dominant position;
- Merger discipline in European competition law;
- The application of EU competition law;
- The competition rules applicable to public undertakings and undertakings entrusted with the operation of services of general economic interest;
- The rules on State aid to undertakings.
Prerequisites for admission
Introducing to EU Law or a similar course covering institutional aspects of EU Law is a prerequisite.
Teaching methods
The course consists of lectures in which the specific aspects of European competition law will be examined, with extensive references to relevant case law, both European and, to a lesser extent and where useful, domestic. Individual topics may be the subject of in-depth study, through the drafting of written reports and the subsequent presentation in the classroom, by small groups of students (2/3), in order to verify the students' ability to grasp the essential aspects of the discipline being studied and, in particular, to refer to them, also in a critical manner, through an oral presentation (supported by summary material and slides) addressed to the class.
The written reports and classroom presentations will contribute, to the maximum extent of 3 points, to the formation of the final examination grade.
The written reports and classroom presentations will contribute, to the maximum extent of 3 points, to the formation of the final examination grade.
Teaching Resources
P. Manzini, Diritto antitrust dell'Unione europea, Giappichelli, 2022
L. Daniele, Diritto del mercato unico europeo e dello spazio di libertà, sicurezza e giustizia, Giuffré Francis Lefebvre, 2023, limited to Chapter VI, pp. 350-366; and Chapter VII.
Useful supplementary reading is the handbook F. Ghezzi, G. Olivieri, Diritto antitrust, Giappichelli, 2023.
L. Daniele, Diritto del mercato unico europeo e dello spazio di libertà, sicurezza e giustizia, Giuffré Francis Lefebvre, 2023, limited to Chapter VI, pp. 350-366; and Chapter VII.
Useful supplementary reading is the handbook F. Ghezzi, G. Olivieri, Diritto antitrust, Giappichelli, 2023.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination is oral and is aimed at testing the student's knowledge of the fundamental aspects of the discipline being studied. In particular, the examination aims to highlight the student's mastery of the theoretical notions as well as their most relevant practical implications. As in the course of the lectures, attention will also be paid during the examination to the knowledge of the case law of the Court of Justice and the decisions of the European Commission in order to grasp the student's ability to apply the institutions studied to concrete cases.
For attending students, a written pre-examination will be held in which, by answering three open questions, the student will have to demonstrate his or her knowledge of the essential aspects of EU competition law and, above all, its most relevant practical applications, also making ample reference to the most relevant case law cases dealt with during the course.
For attending students, a written pre-examination will be held in which, by answering three open questions, the student will have to demonstrate his or her knowledge of the essential aspects of EU competition law and, above all, its most relevant practical applications, also making ample reference to the most relevant case law cases dealt with during the course.
Professor(s)