NMa: 350 fewer cartels in the Netherlands

Since the creation of the Netherlands Competition Authority (NMa), the Netherlands has approximately 350 fewer cartels. Of the more than 1,100 exemption applications that were submitted in 1998 as part of the transitional regime provided for in the Dutch Competition Act, more than 30 percent fully or partially violated the prohibition of cartels. This is what the Director-General of NMa, Anne Willem Kist, said in the NMa’s 2000 Annual report.

Today, the Director-General of NMa and the Director of the Office of Energy Regulation (DTe), Mr. J.J. de Jong, presented the annual report of NMa/DTe. DTe is part of the NMa.

The NMa has concentrated more on investigations into violations of the prohibition of anti-competitive agreements, and into the abuse of dominant positions. The NMa launched ten investigations. In two cases, a statement of objections was drawn up because of a suspected violation of the prohibition of cartels in the shrimp fishery and the taxi markets. Seven decisions imposing sanctions were taken. In the coming year, the NMa expects to develop itself further into a proactive competition authority, tracking down violations of competition rules.

The NMa reports that more mergers and acquisitions were notified of in 2000 than in the previous year (197 in 2000 compared with 158 in 1999). In several of these concentrations, it was possible to establish in advance that they did not restrict competition.

The measures taken by DTe will, over the next three years,  lead to cost savings totaling approximately EUR 500 million in the electricity sector as a result of more efficient grid management. The introduction of the Dutch Gas Act, which took effect in 2000, will result in increased efficiency in operations, and in a more cost-oriented approach in the tariffs.