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2022 | 15 | 25 | 37-61

Article title

The Resurrection of the Comfort Letter: Back to the Future?

Content

Title variants

Languages of publication

Abstracts

FR
Les chocs économiques induits par la pandémie ont amené la Commission européenne et les autorités nationales de la concurrence à adopter des lettres dites de confort pour fournir des orientations, des assurances et une sécurité juridique aux entreprises afin de contribuer à atténuer les effets néfastes de la crise. S’il est vrai que les temps désespérés appellent des mesures désespérées, le fait que la Commission continue à émettre des lettres de confort pour des initiatives peu pertinentes par rapport à l’urgence actuelle soulève des questions. Cet article analyse la réapparition des lettres de confort au regard de la base juridique et de la certitude. Il constate que les fondements sur lesquels ces lettres sont construites sont fragiles, ce qui se traduit par un encouragement à l’incertitude. À cet égard, cet article explore les alternatives pour les autorités chargées de l’application de la législation de l’Union de mettre en place un solide régime d’orientation sur mesure pour l’avenir.
EN
Pandemic-induced economic shocks saw the European Commission and national competition authorities adopt so-called comfort letters to provide guidance, assurance, and legal certainty to undertakings in order to help mitigate the detrimental effects of the crisis. Whereas it is true that desperate times may call for desperate measures, the fact that the Commission continues to issue comfort letters for initiatives with little relevance to the ongoing emergency raises questions. This article analyzes the re-emergence of comfort letters from the viewpoints of legal basis and certainty. It finds that the foundations upon which the letters are constructed are shaky, which translates into the fostering of uncertainty. In that regard, explored are alternatives for Union enforcers to deploy a robust bespoke guidance regime for the future.

Year

Volume

15

Issue

25

Pages

37-61

Physical description

Dates

published
2022

Contributors

  • European University Institute

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Document Type

Publication order reference

Identifiers

Biblioteka Nauki
2158404

YADDA identifier

bwmeta1.element.ojs-doi-10_7172_1689-9024_YARS_2022_15_25_2
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