The article gives an overview of the cooperation between antitrust enforcers in the European Competition
Network (ECN) three years after it coming into existence. It recalls the main principles behind this unique
cooperation form and gives an insight into its working methods, achievements and challenges. The authors,
working within the dedicated ECN unit in DG Competition, explain how the work-sharing and
information exchanges between the enforcers have resulted in an enhanced, strategic and coherent
application of Community competition rules throughout Europe. Focus is given to ECN’s increasing role
in influencing policy reflections beyond the legal obligations in Regulation 1/2003. This new era of ECN
cooperation is illustrated by work undertaken in the leniency field. The authors give a detailed account of
the ECN Model Leniency programme, unanimously endorsed by all ECN members in September 2006
as a solution for the multiple parallel leniency filing issue in Europe. The authors explain the background
and the status of this ground-breaking project and reveal the reflections behind its individual provisions.
World Competition