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Multilateralism, bilateralism and unilateralism: a critical commentary on the EU’s triple‐track approach to the international dimension of competition policy

Leigh Davison (Leigh Davison is a Principal Lecturer at the University of Lincolnshire and Humberside, Hull, UK.)
Debra Johnson (Debra Johnson is a Principal Lecturer at the University of Lincolnshire and Humberside, Hull, UK.)

European Business Review

ISSN: 0955-534X

Article publication date: 1 February 2002

1699

Abstract

Demonstrates that the European Union (EU) has moved from a twin‐track to a triple‐track approach to the vetting of cross‐border competition concerns. The twin‐track approach is based on co‐operation at the multilateral and bilateral levels. The new third track, not based on co‐operation, is the legal right to unilaterally apply competition instruments extraterritorially. The EU has pushed to establish a multilateral approach through the auspices of the World Trade Organisation. Although there has been some support for this, the reservations from the USA and others make this track unfeasible for the foreseeable future. In the absence of any significant multilateral progress, the EU has concluded bilateral agreements with major partners, but the approach has its limitations – the EU can only deal with the countries with which it has such an agreement. The Commission’s third track unilaterally applies EU competition instruments extraterritorially using the effects doctrine.

Keywords

Citation

Davison, L. and Johnson, D. (2002), "Multilateralism, bilateralism and unilateralism: a critical commentary on the EU’s triple‐track approach to the international dimension of competition policy", European Business Review, Vol. 14 No. 1, pp. 7-19. https://doi.org/10.1108/09555340210414205

Publisher

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MCB UP Ltd

Copyright © 2002, MCB UP Limited

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