Effectiveness of Private Enforcement of European Competition Law in Case of Passing-on of Overcharges: Implementation of Antitrust Damages Directive in Germany, France, and Ireland

Abstract

The term ‘passing-on’ in the framework of private enforcement of European competition law has been a point of discussion for a considerable period of time now. The debate has elevated to its peak following the judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Union (hereinafter CJEU, Court of Justice or the Court) in case Courage and later Manfredi.1 In those milestone cases the Court supported the idea that any individual who suffers harm as a result of competition law infringement ought to be able to claim damages. As a result of this jurisprudential development, it soon became clear that the EU legislator will have to catch up with the idea of strengthening the position of individuals in private enforcement proceedings.