Treading a tightrope: the balance between competition law and climate change

Alexandra BURDULEA^*

* Ph.D. candidate, West University of Timişoara, Romania, Universite de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, France, Email: alexandra.burudulea@e-uvt.ro

ABSTRACT

The integration of environmental concerns into EU sectorial policies has been a long-standing debate amongst legal scholars. One of the most accentuated friction points refers to the balancing of the core economic character of European competition law with environmental protection. Crucial private initiatives such as joint procurement of recycled materials, agreements setting minimal environmental protection standards and knowledge-sharing platforms risk to be either halted or severely discouraged by the chilling effect of competition law, in its current interpretation. Up to date, both competition authorities and the European Court of Justice have been reluctant in determining whether competition law can be interpreted differently in in...