Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Foreword
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Part I Should environmental goals play a role in EU competition law and policy?
- 1 Environmental protection in EU competition theory to date
- 2 The rise of the market in EU environmental policy
- 3 Why environmental protection goals should play a role in EU competition policy: a legal systematic argument
- 4 Why environmental protection goals should play a role in EU competition policy: a governance argument
- 5 Why environmental protection goals should play a role in EU competition policy: an economic argument
- Part II The role of environmental protection in EU competition law and policy in practice
- Part III Conclusions
- Select bibliography
- Index
- References
1 - Environmental protection in EU competition theory to date
from Part I - Should environmental goals play a role in EU competition law and policy?
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 November 2011
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Foreword
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Part I Should environmental goals play a role in EU competition law and policy?
- 1 Environmental protection in EU competition theory to date
- 2 The rise of the market in EU environmental policy
- 3 Why environmental protection goals should play a role in EU competition policy: a legal systematic argument
- 4 Why environmental protection goals should play a role in EU competition policy: a governance argument
- 5 Why environmental protection goals should play a role in EU competition policy: an economic argument
- Part II The role of environmental protection in EU competition law and policy in practice
- Part III Conclusions
- Select bibliography
- Index
- References
Summary
Introduction
Does competition theory admit of a role for environmental protection in EU competition law and, if so, what should that role be? In considering this matter, two points become rapidly clear.
First, our response to this question depends on what perspective on competition theory we adopt or, put otherwise, where we situate ourselves within the schools of competition theory that have developed. Secondly, it follows that our response depends fundamentally on what we perceive to be the objectives of EU competition law. On the face of it, it may seem that, after much debate since the inception of EU competition policy, this issue has essentially been decided: the aim of modern EU competition law is the enhancement of consumer welfare. Proponents of this position typically point to certain recent statements of the Commission to this effect, and, in particular, the statement in its 2004 Guidelines on the Application of Article 81(3) of the Treaty (now Article 101(3) TFEU), cited in the Introduction to this book, that:
The objective of Article [101] is to protect competition on the market as a means of enhancing consumer welfare and of ensuring an efficient allocation of resources.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Greening EU Competition Law and Policy , pp. 9 - 40Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2011