6 ECTS credits
150 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 4017494FER for all students in the 2nd semester at a (F) Master - specialised level.
The overall objective of this course is to provide students with a frame of reference and methodology to understand and apply European competition law for businesses.
This course has interactive lectures prepared by the students.
The objectives are as follows:
- To familiarise students with the scope of Articles 101-102 TFEU, both at the European level and in Belgium.
- To give students an understanding of European Union (EU) policy on horizontal agreements (agreements between competitors).
- To give students an understanding of EU policy on vertical agreements.
- To give students an understanding of the EU's policy on abuse of dominance.
- To give students an understanding of the policy of several EU member states, including Belgium, on abuse of position of economic dependency.
- To give students an understanding of competition law as it applies to companies with exclusive or special rights due to the government.
- To give students an understanding of EU merger control.
- To give students an understanding of EU institutional-procedural competition law for companies.
- To give students insight into the interaction between EU and national (Belgian) competition law for companies.
- To give students insight into public enforcement (fines) and private enforcement of competition law for undertakings (damages actions.
Guest lectures: the lecturer may invite guest speakers, based on their special knowledge or current events.
Background knowledge: objectives and functioning of the EU. See e.g. K. Lenaerts and P. Van Nuffel, European Law, Antwerp, Intersentia, 7th ed., 2023.
In the context of this course, Dutch-language sources are used, unless it concerns, for example, decisions of the European Commission and/or judgments of the General Court and/or the Court of Justice of the European Union of which no Dutch-language version is (yet) available.
Students also acquire knowledge through self-study.
During the first lectures, students are informed about the content and learning outcomes of the course, and about the study materials and the examination.
For the work students, one or more contact moments are scheduled by mutual agreement.
The overall objective of this course is to provide students with a frame of reference and methodology to understand and apply European competition law for undertakings.
Students demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the basic principles of substantive, institutional and/or procedural European competition law for undertakings.
Students independently analyse complex cases on the legality of horizontal and/or vertical agreements concluded between companies and on whether or not they abuse their dominant position, and provide solutions to them.
The students are autonomously able to consult, understand and apply the sources provided by the lecturer when analysing complex cases concerning European competition law for undertakings.
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 100% of the final mark.
Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Written exam. Open (and possibly closed) questions and cases. Students may use EU basic texts provided by the lecturer during the examination.
Students may request access to the copy of their examination by e-mail (filip.tuytschaever@vub.be) within five calendar days of the announcement of the exam results.
Within the same period, they may also request an explanation of the exam results (see also the "Education and Examination Regulations").
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Laws: Dual Master in Comparative Corporate and Financial Law (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Laws: Civil and Procedural Law (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Laws: Criminology (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Laws: Economic Law (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Laws: Tax Law (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Laws: International and European Law (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Laws: Public Law (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Laws: Social Law (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Laws: Criminal Law (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Laws: Law and Technology (only offered in Dutch)
Master of International and European Law: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)