22 - Competition Law Sanctions in Germany

Summary

The chapter describes how the mix of competition law sanctions and enforcement instruments in Germany has been significantly expanded in recent years. A special feature of the German competition law procedure is that there are two different types of proceedings. Administrative proceedings allow for less serious consequences, such as prohibitions, behavioural and structural remedies, and disgorgements. More severe measures, such as regulatory fines, can only be adopted in regulatory offence proceedings. Criminal law does not play a major role in the enforcement of competition law in Germany. There is only one real criminal offence, bid-rigging. Recent reforms have concerned the liability of parent companies and legal and economic successors, the codification of the leniency programme and the calculation of fines. A highly controversial issue is the liability of managers and employees. New enforcement approaches currently being discussed or already being tested include exclusion from public tenders, reputational sanctions, whistle-blowing and increased use of negotiated settlements. Private enforcement seems to be making particularly great progress as a result of the EU Antitrust Damages Directive. Overall, the current system in Germany seeks to combine incentives for voluntary compliance with tough sanctions and strict enforcement for those who nevertheless break the law.