The Bundeskartellamt’s tasks

Mergers

The Bundeskartellamt controls mergers between companies. The purpose of merger control is to prevent companies from becoming too powerful by taking over competitors or acquiring stakes in other companies, with the result of adversely affecting competition.

What mergers does the Bundeskartellamt examine and how are such proceedings conducted? Why does the Bundeskartellamt stop some companies from implementing their plans and what is ministerial authorisation?

More information on merger control

Extended abuse control over large internet companies

In 2021 the Bundeskartellamt was given extended powers to control companies of “paramount significance for competition across markets”. The new provision set out in Section 19a of the German Competition Act (Gesetz gegen Wettbewerbsbeschränkungen – GWB) is aimed in particular at large digital companies.

Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Apple, Meta (Facebook), Microsoft, etc.? What kind of conduct can the Bundeskartellamt prohibit? How do these powers relate to the EU Commission’s responsibilities under the Digital Markets Act?

More information on the new rules for the digital economy

Competition Register for Public Procurement

Since 2021 the Bundeskartellamt has been keeping the Competition Register for Public Procurement. Companies which have committed certain economic offences are entered in a fully electronic central database. Such companies may have to be excluded from public award procedures. The Competition Register for Public Procurement makes it easier for contracting authorities to assess this.

What is entered in the register and what are the consequences for companies? How does “self-cleaning” work and how can an entry be deleted?

More information on the Competition Register

Market Transparency Unit for Fuels

The Market Transparency Unit for Fuels enables consumers to obtain information on current fuel prices at petrol stations in Germany. Is it even worth comparing fuel prices and how does the Market Transparency Unit for Fuels work?

More information on the Market Transparency Unit for Fuels

Control of abusive practices in the context of energy price relief measures

In response to soaring energy prices at the end of 2022 the Federal Government introduced price caps for electricity, gas and heat to ease the financial burden on private households and companies. In this context, the Bundeskartellamt was assigned a completely new task: to examine whether any energy suppliers have unjustly claimed relief payments made available by the state.

 Are suppliers allowed to raise prices, and if so, by how much? What consequences do energy suppliers have to face if they unjustly raise their prices and claim compensation payments?

More information on monitoring energy price relief measures