Prevención y reacción frente a restricciones públicas injustificadas de la competencia por las autoridades antitrust españolas (Prevention and Reaction Against Unjustified Restraints to Competition by Spanish Antitrust Authorities)

TLDR: In this paper, the authors examine the activities of promotion and advocacy of the Spanish competition authorities in the face of unjustified public barriers and restrains to competition, distinguishing between preventive and reactive tools, arguing that preventive measures are articulated through reports that seek to inspire regulation and administrative action, persuading the public authorities to adopt those solutions that are more respectful of free competition in the markets.

Abstract: Spanish Abstract: Este articulo examina las actividades de promocion de la competencia de las autoridades de competencia espanolas frente a las barreras y restricciones publicas injustificadas a la libre competencia, distinguiendo entre actuaciones preventivas y reactivas. La actuacion preventiva se articula a traves de informes que buscan inspirar la regulacion y actuacion administrativa, persuadiendo a los poderes publicos para la adopcion de aquellas soluciones mas respetuosas con la libre competencia en los mercados. La actuacion reactiva se verifica una vez la regulacion o actuacion administrativa se ha materializado y es de caracter impugnatorio. Este mecanismo de intervencion ex post se ha visto reforzado en diciembre de 2013 con el reconocimiento a la Comision Nacional de los Mercados y de la Competencia de potestades adicionales de impugnacion de actuaciones y normas en la Ley de Garantia de la Unidad de Mercado. English Abstract: This article examines the activities of promotion and advocacy of the Spanish competition authorities in the face of unjustified public barriers and restrains to competition, distinguishing between preventive and reactive tools. The preventive measures are articulated through reports that seek to inspire regulation and administrative action, persuading the public authorities to adopt those solutions that are more respectful of free competition in the markets. The reactive action is verified once the regulation or administrative action has occurred through their challenge in court. This mechanism of intervention ex post has been reinforced in December 2013 with the recognition to the National Markets and Competition Commission of additional powers to challenge restrictive public measures in accordance to the Market Unit Guarantee Law (MUGL).