The Bundeskartellamt

The Bundeskartellamt protects free and fair competition in Germany. Competition is the cornerstone of our social market economy. It encourages businesses to do better and make an effort to win over customers, driving innovation and stimulating the economy. Effective competition leads to lower prices, better quality and a constant stream of new ideas. It also limits the power of individual companies. But the ingenious principle of competition is fragile and needs to be protected ...

Bundeskartellamt
Source:Bundeskartellamt

Latest news

SAP can acquire WalkMe

23.08.2024

Further important step in implementing the Bundeskartellamt’s ruling on abusive practices against Deutsche Bahn – mobility platforms gain access to real-time data

15.08.2024

VW and Rivian can form joint venture

29.07.2024

Bundeskartellamt prohibits merger between Heidelberg University Hospital and University Hospital Mannheim

26.07.2024

Merger notification in the crash test dummy industry withdrawn due to competition concerns raised by the Bundeskartellamt

23.07.2024

GlaxoSmithKline can acquire rights to CureVac’s COVID and influenza vaccines

12.07.2024

New EU report: A boost for competition enforcement in Germany

11.07.2024

Bundeskartellamt imposes fine against Fritz! brand products manufacturer AVM

02.07.2024

Theo Steil GmbH & CoKG can acquire Rhein Main Rohstoffe GmbH in Frankfurt am Main

01.07.2024

Nordwest-Medien and DK Medien can set up joint venture

27.06.2024

Bundeskartellamt presents its Annual Report for 2023/24

26.06.2024

Restructuring of SAS airline – Air France-KLM, Castlelake and Kingdom of Denmark can acquire minority shareholdings

24.06.2024

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About us

The Bundeskartellamt, which is based in Bonn, is the most important competition authority in Germany. It is an independent higher federal authority assigned to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.

Why is competition important? When was the Bundeskartellamt established and what is the legal framework for its work?

Blick von oben auf Holzrädchen, die ineinander greifen und von einer Gruppe Menschen gehalten werden.
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President & Vice President

The Bundeskartellamt is headed by President Andreas Mundt, who assumed office in 2009, and Vice President Prof. Dr Konrad Ost.

Foto von Andreas Mundt, Präsident des Bundeskartellamts
Source:Bundeskartellamt/Bernd Lammel

Tasks & organisational structure

One of the Bundeskartellamt’s main tasks is to enforce the ban on cartels, that is the prohibition to conclude illegal agreements. But the Bundeskartellamt also has many other tasks that help ensure effective protection of competition.

What are those tasks and how is the Bundeskartellamt structured?

Ein Netz aus virtuellen Benutzerprofilköpfen
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International work

Globalisation is pushing markets closer together and businesses are becoming more international. For this reason, the Bundeskartellamt cooperates closely with competition authorities all over the world, and in particular in the European Union.

What does this international cooperation look like in practice? Who is in charge of which matters and which institutions and organisations are important?

Fahnen verschiedener Länder vor blauem Himmel
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Events

The Bundeskartellamt also promotes recognition of the principle of competition by hosting conferences and events on topics of competition law and competition economics. At these events practitioners and academics from all over the world come together and exchange views on fundamental and topical issues of competition law.

Person hält Vortrag vor sitzendem Publikum.
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Legislation & further documents

Legislation and further documents can be found here ...

Ein aufgeklappter Gesetzestext auf einem Tisch
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Frequently asked questions ...

How do we define competition?

Competition means that several companies compete with one another for customers. Customers can switch to another company offering comparable services at a better price or at better conditions.

Why is competition important?

Competition ensures that companies have to try to win customers by offering cheaper prices, better quality or more innovative products than their competitors. Competition therefore benefits consumers.

Does competition simply occur by itself?

No, not necessarily. Companies could try to eliminate competition by agreeing on prices with their competitors or acquiring a competitor.

How is competition protected?

The Bundeskartellamt acts as a kind of referee in the social market economy. It protects free and fair competition with various tools, in particular cartel prosecution, merger control and abuse control.