Council of the European Union 16 December 2002, Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 of 16 December 2002 on the implementation of the rules on competition laid down in Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty (Text with EEA relevance)

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Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 establishes a framework for the effective and uniform application of competition rules under Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty, aimed at preventing distortion of competition within the European Community. Key provisions include empowering national competition authorities and courts to apply these rules directly, the introduction of a burden of proof standard for infringements, and the establishment of a network for cooperation between the Commission and Member States' authorities. The regulation also allows for the adoption of "block" exemption regulations and commitment decisions, while ensuring that national laws can impose stricter competition standards as long as they align with Community law principles.AI