Private Law Liability of the Undertaking Pursuant to Art. 101 TFEU
Wirtschaft und Wettbewerb (WuW) 2019, 290
15 Pages Posted: 22 Aug 2019 Last revised: 13 Oct 2019
Date Written: August 20, 2019
Abstract
In its Skanska decision the ECJ bases an undertaking’s private law liability for cartel damages directly on Art. 101 TFEU and holds its judicature regarding both liability within the economic unit and the principle of economic continuity to be applicable in private law. The article considers the private law action for damages nevertheless to be an action under national law, finds the undertaking to be a legal entity in itself, discusses joint and several liability of all constituent parts of an economic unit and deals with the question whether the undertaking itself can be a cartel victim and entitled to damages. The article considers the judgement to have no impact on national laws on the imposition of fines.
Note: This article is a revised and updated translation of the German language article “Kartellrechtliche Haftung des Unternehmens nach Art. 101 AEUV – Folgerungen aus EuGH, Urt. v. 14.03.2019, C-724/17 – Skanska –“ published in Wirtschaft und Wettbewerb (WuW) 2019, 290 et seq.
Keywords: Skanska, undertaking, group liability, liability of sister companies, private enforcement, cartel damage claims, competition law
JEL Classification: K21, K29
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation