Analysis
Digital platforms and the potential changes to competition law at the European level
The rise of digital technologies has brought great benefits for companies and consumers but has also raised new challenges, leading to questions about the future of EU competition law. These questions now lie at the centre of an antitrust debate in Europe and the rest of the world.
The Nordic competition authorities in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden have responded to these challenges by committing to a robust enforcement of competition rules that keeps pace with technological developments. Our experiences are testament to the growing relevance of digital platforms, and we recognize that our authorities have a vital role to play in developing competition law in relation to these markets through the cases that we bring.
In making this commitment, we are aware of the importance of having the expertise, tools and methods necessary to apply the competition rules in an agile manner to complex and fast-mov-ing markets. It is also our responsibility to time our interventions correctly in order to protect competition while not stifling innovation.
We recognize that the challenges arising from digital platforms are often inherently cross-border in nature. This is why we are convinced of the importance of international cooperation to ensure a coherent application of the EU/EEA rules. This is evidenced by our approach to this memorandum, but also by our engagement in the work being undertaken at the European level. As the policy debate around digital platforms continues, cooperation will help avoid fragmentation of the single market and enhance the impact and effectiveness of the harmonised EU/EEA competition rules.