European Union: EU-UK signed Competition Cooperation Agreement

On 25 February 2026, the European Commission and the United Kingdom signed the EU-UK Competition Cooperation Agreement, the first dedicated EU-UK agreement focused on competition cooperation following the withdrawal of the UK from the Union. The EU-UK Competition Cooperation Agreement sets a framework for cooperation between the European Commission and EU Member State competition authorities and the UK's Competition and Markets Authority. It lays down principles of cooperation, including mutual notification of significant antitrust and merger investigations and coordination of efforts when necessary. Competition authorities are required to protect the confidentiality of shared information. The consent of companies that provided confidential information will remain necessary before sharing it between competition authorities. The EU-UK Competition Cooperation Agreement will be a supplement to the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. It will enter into force after both parties have finalised their ratification procedures. The Council of the EU is invited to adopt a decision to conclude the EU-UK Competition Cooperation Agreement, which will also require the consent of the European Parliament.