2020-2021 / DROI0271-4

European competition law

European Competition Law

Questions spéciales

Duration

European Competition Law : 36h Th
Questions spéciales : 15h Th

Number of credits

 Specialised master in European law5 crédits 

Lecturer

European Competition Law : Pieter Van Cleynenbreugel
Questions spéciales : Jean-François Bellis, Pieter Van Cleynenbreugel

Coordinator

Pieter Van Cleynenbreugel

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

This course addresses the entire range of EU competition law issues. The first part deals with anticompetitive agreements (Article 101 TFEU) and abuse of dominance (Article 102 TFEU) and their enforcement. The second part deals with merger control.

European Competition Law

This course addresses the entire range of EU competition law issues. The first part deals with anticompetitive agreements (Article 101 TFEU) and abuse of dominance (Article 102 TFEU) and their enforcement. The second part deals with merger control.

Questions spéciales

This course deals with special questions building upon the subjects analysed in the basic European competition law course. A capita selecta approach is taken.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

This course is designed to awaken students to the challenges of a key area of European policy and business law, competition law and provide the expertise to detect, in the professional life, potential problems related to this particular subject matter. At the end of the course, students are able to solve complex and facts-based case studies and to propose a solution that is both pragmatic and realistic. Students also gain a critical view of legislative and doctrinal sources.

European Competition Law

This course is designed to awaken students to the challenges of a key area of European policy and business law, competition law and provide the expertise to detect, in the professional life, potential problems related to this particular subject matter. At the end of the course, students are able to solve complex and facts-based case studies and to propose a solution that is both pragmatic and realistic. Students also gain a critical view of legislative and doctrinal sources.

Questions spéciales

Students will be able to rely on the basic knowledge of competition law in order to understand the stakes and difficulties of real-life EU competition law cases.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Basic knowledge of EU law is preferred

European Competition Law

Basic knowledge of EU law is preferred

Questions spéciales

No pre-requisite<br /><br /> No pre-requisite

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Online ex cathedra modules and practical exercise sessions in a face-to-face setting. Those exercises prepare for the exam.
A Q&A board will be made available on eCampus.

European Competition Law

Online ex cathedra modules and practical exercise sessions in a face-to-face setting. Those exercises prepare for the exam.
A Q&A board will be made available on eCampus.

Questions spéciales

Seminars taught by practitioners, either face-to-face or online

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

In 2020-2021, this course will be taught in English.
Covid-19 has a significant impact on our traditional ways of teaching. In an attempt to minimise the risk of contamination and to allow the level of education you are entitled to to proceed in accordance with the rules and guidelines issued at University and Government(s)' level, this course will be organised partially online and partially in a face-to-face setting.
More specifically, the traditional ex cathedra lectures will be replaced by online modules. Those modules will consist in Powerpoints, audiocomments and, if applicable, video messages, made available on the eCampus platform. Modules will comprise of a maximum of 8 hours of materials and will be made available at the beginning of the week. The advantage of this way of proceeding is that you have the opportunity to plan your week accordingly and follow the different presentations within a given module at your own convenience.
The online modules will be complemented by face-to-face sessions, during which you will be divided in two groups. One group (Group A) will take the session on Wednesday from 10.30 to 12.00, the other (Group B) will do so on Friday from 14.00 to 15.30. The Friday sessions will be podcasted, with the disclaimer that this will only be the case if the podcast equipment functions appropriately.
 
Module 1 : Competition, competition law and European competition law? (online module, available via eCampus in the week beginning 28 September)

  • Why competition law ?
  • Why EU competition law ?
  • The structure of EU competition law
  • The general scope of application of EU competition law
Face-to-face practical exercise in the week beginning 12 October : scope of application of EU competition law
Module 2 : art. 101 TFEU - restrictive anticompetitive practices, including cartels (online module, available via eCampus in the week beginning 19 October)
  • Agreements, decisions by associations of undertakings and concerted practices
  • Restrictions by object and effect
  • Block exemptions
  • Voidness of restrictive contracts and decisions
  • Individual exceptions - art. 101(3) TFEU
  • Enforcement of art. 101 TFEU
  • Summary of art. 101 TFEU
Face-to-face practical exercise in the week beginning 26 October: art. 101 TFEU (I)
Face-to-face practical exercise in the week beginning 9 November: art. 101 TFEU (II)
Module 3 : art. 102 TFEU - abuse of a dominant position (online module, available via eCampus in the week beginning 16 November)
  • Determining the existence of a dominant position
  • The concept of abuse in EU competition law
  • Justifications of abusive behaviour
  • Abuse and online platforms
  • Enforcement of art. 102 TFEU
Face-to-face practical exercise in the week beginning 23 November: art. 102 TFEU
Module 4 : concentration control- Regulation 139/2004 (online module, available via eCampus in the week beginning 30 November)
  • Why concentration control ?
  • Scope of application of Regulation 139/2004
  • Notification procedures
  • Substantive assessment of notified concentrations
Face-to-face practical exercise in the week beginning 7 December: concentrations + exam preparation

European Competition Law

In 2020-2021, this course will be taught in English.
Covid-19 has a significant impact on our traditional ways of teaching. In an attempt to minimise the risk of contamination and to allow the level of education you are entitled to to proceed in accordance with the rules and guidelines issued at University and Government(s)' level, this course will be organised partially online and partially in a face-to-face setting.
More specifically, the traditional ex cathedra lectures will be replaced by online modules. Those modules will consist in Powerpoints, audiocomments and, if applicable, video messages, made available on the eCampus platform. Modules will comprise of a maximum of 8 hours of materials and will be made available at the beginning of the week. The advantage of this way of proceeding is that you have the opportunity to plan your week accordingly and follow the different presentations within a given module at your own convenience.
The online modules will be complemented by face-to-face sessions, during which you will be divided in two groups. One group (Group A) will take the session on Wednesday from 10.30 to 12.00, the other (Group B) will do so on Friday from 14.00 to 15.30. The Friday sessions will be podcasted, with the disclaimer that this will only be the case if the podcast equipment functions appropriately.
 
Module 1 : Competition, competition law and European competition law? (online module, available via eCampus in the week beginning 28 September)

  • Why competition law ?
  • Why EU competition law ?
  • The structure of EU competition law
  • The general scope of application of EU competition law
Face-to-face practical exercise in the week beginning 12 October : scope of application of EU competition law
Module 2 : art. 101 TFEU - restrictive anticompetitive practices, including cartels (online module, available via eCampus in the week beginning 19 October)
  • Agreements, decisions by associations of undertakings and concerted practices
  • Restrictions by object and effect
  • Block exemptions
  • Voidness of restrictive contracts and decisions
  • Individual exceptions - art. 101(3) TFEU
  • Enforcement of art. 101 TFEU
  • Summary of art. 101 TFEU
Face-to-face practical exercise in the week beginning 26 October: art. 101 TFEU (I)
Face-to-face practical exercise in the week beginning 9 November: art. 101 TFEU (II)
Module 3 : art. 102 TFEU - abuse of a dominant position (online module, available via eCampus in the week beginning 16 November)
  • Determining the existence of a dominant position
  • The concept of abuse in EU competition law
  • Justifications of abusive behaviour
  • Abuse and online platforms
  • Enforcement of art. 102 TFEU
Face-to-face practical exercise in the week beginning 23 November: art. 102 TFEU
Module 4 : concentration control- Regulation 139/2004 (online module, available via eCampus in the week beginning 30 November)
  • Why concentration control ?
  • Scope of application of Regulation 139/2004
  • Notification procedures
  • Substantive assessment of notified concentrations
Face-to-face practical exercise in the week beginning 7 December: concentrations + exam preparation
 

Questions spéciales

Ex-cathedra<br /><br /> Ex-cathedra

Organisational adjustments related to the current health context

From code orange onwards, face-to-face sessions will be replaced by online classes or podcasts. More information will be communicated via eCampus.
The open book exam will take place online, via eCampus. More specific instructions on downloading the exam questions and uploading the exam answers will be communicated via this platform.

European Competition Law

From code orange onwards, face-to-face sessions will be replaced by online classes or podcasts. More information will be communicated via eCampus.
 
The open book exam will take place online, via eCampus. More specific instructions on downloading the exam questions and uploading the exam answers will be communicated via this platform.

Questions spéciales

Online classes may be organised instead of face-to-face sessions.

Recommended or required readings

A series of articles written by the course instructor will be made available to students enrolled in this course.

European Competition Law

A series of articles written by the course instructor will be made available to students enrolled in this course.

Questions spéciales

Cases and materials will be made available.

Assessment methods and criteria

Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.

Any session :

- In-person

written exam

- Remote

written exam ( open-ended questions )

- If evaluation in "hybrid"

preferred remote


Additional information:

Open-book examination, either in a classical written exam format or online (via eCampus) depending on the circumstances relating to the current pandemic.
The exam will consist of 3 questions:
A practical case covering the subject-matter of the course: 10 points
A theoretical question, testing your knowledge of concepts and terms: 4 points
A question containing three true-false hypotheses: 6 points
Practice questions will be offered throughout the semester.

European Competition Law

Any session :

- In-person

written exam

- Remote

written exam ( open-ended questions )

- If evaluation in "hybrid"

preferred remote


Additional information:

Open-book examination, either in a classical written exam format or online (via eCampus) depending on the circumstances relating to the current pandemic.
The exam will consist of 3 questions:
A practical case covering the subject-matter of the course: 10 points
A theoretical question, testing your knowledge of concepts and terms: 4 points
A question containing three true-false hypotheses: 6 points
Practice questions will be offered throughout the semester.

Questions spéciales

Any session :

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions )

- Remote

written exam ( open-ended questions )

- If evaluation in "hybrid"

preferred remote


Additional information:

Open book exam

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Please register for the course on eCampus to have access to relevant course materials and online lectures

European Competition Law

Please register for the course on eCampus to have access to relevant course materials and online lectures

Questions spéciales

/  

Contacts

Professor:
Pieter.vancleynenbreugel@uliege.be


Assistants: jerome.decooman@uliege.be
sandrine.mathieu@uliege.be

European Competition Law

Professor: pieter.vancleynenbreugel@uliege.be

Assistants:
jerome.decooman@uliege.be
sandrine.mathieu@uliege.be

Questions spéciales

pieter.vancleynenbreugel@uliege.be