European Commission Market Definitions

Instant search across DG COMP merger decisions — the definitive source for EU-wide market definitions

About European Commission

The European Commission's Directorate-General for Competition (DG COMP) is the primary competition authority for mergers with an EU dimension. Its market definitions set the standard for competition law analysis across all 27 EU member states and, sometimes, also the EFTA member states Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, and remain the most widely cited precedents in cross-border merger filings globally. The European Commission's 2024 Notice on the Definition of the Relevant Market underpins the market definition methodologies, including e.g., the SSNIP test, applied by virtually every competition authority in Europe.

Why DG COMP Market Definitions Matter

  • European Commission decisions cover all 27 EU member states and sometimes also the EFTA member states Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, and are the authoritative reference point for any European competition filing.
  • The European Commission's 2024 Notice on Market Definition codifies the market definition methodologies, including e.g. the SSNIP test, followed by national authorities across Europe.
  • Cross-border mergers reviewed by multiple national authorities routinely rely on European Commission precedents to establish consistent market boundaries.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is DG COMP?

The Directorate-General for Competition (DG COMP) is the European Commission department responsible for enforcing EU competition law, including merger control under the EU Merger Regulation (EUMR). It reviews mergers with an EU dimension — typically transactions where the parties meet one of the jurisdictional thresholds (the main threshold being combined worldwide turnover above €5 billion and EU-wide turnover above €250 million each for at least two parties).

What is the EU Merger Regulation?

Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (the EUMR) grants the European Commission exclusive jurisdiction to review mergers with an EU dimension. Under the 'one-stop-shop' principle, a transaction notified to the European Commission does not need to be separately notified to national competition authorities in EU member states.

Can European Commission market definitions be used in national filings?

Yes. European Commission market definitions are routinely cited in filings before national competition authorities across Europe. While national authorities are not bound by European Commission precedent, convergence is the norm — especially for markets that are European or global in geographic scope.

How can I search European Commission market definitions efficiently?

CuriAI indexes and makes searchable the market definition paragraphs from European Commission merger decisions. You can search by product, sector, or keyword in plain English and receive AI-synthesised answers with direct citations to the relevant paragraphs.