United Kingdom: Guidance on the functions of the Competition and Markets Authority after the end of the Transition Period

The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) issues a guidance with information on the legal changes regarding its jurisdiction after the Brexit transition period, which started on February 1, 2020 (the date on which the UK withdrew from the EU) and lasted until December 31, 2020, as stated in the Withdrawal Agreement. From January 1, 2021, the guidance will come into effect and the UK will no longer apply EU law. It has to be stated however, that while mergers with a "community dimension", meaning mergers that are exclusively under the jurisdiction of the EU based on their size and worldwide turnover, are still going to be under the jurisdiction of the European Commission after the transitional period ends. Parallel merger investigations by the Commission and the CMA are however possible from January 1, 2021 on. Furthermore, cases initiated before December 31, 2020 will still be retained by the Commission. In regards to enforcement, the CMA will only be able to investigate and prohibit offences against UK competition law.