Promoting Competition Policy Abroad: European Union Efforts in the Developing World

Abstract

This articles surveys EU efforts to promote competition rules and practices to countries of the developing world. Two modalities stand out. First, the EU uses bilateral and regional agreements as vehicles to promote the observance of rule frameworks that mirror closely core EU treaty competition provisions. The objective is to encourage closer alignment of foreign rules and practices with those of the EU. Second, EU authorities promote competition policy through enforcement cooperation agreements. Though not addressing directly the composition of rules, the agreements seek to more closely align enforcement expectations to reduce the risk of, and costs associated with, interjurisdictional conflict. In addition to highlighting policy promotion efforts, the article notes the varying degrees to which the EU has been able to shape foreign rules and practices. The article concludes by examining two factors that account for this variation— the scope of political-legal integration and the degree of market dependence.