The EU competition policy. The reform in 2003. The European Commission strengthened its powers.
Competition policy has played a significant role in the European Union. The 1957 vision of the single market that would generate benefits through market integration led the authors of the Treaty of Rome to anchor the competition policy in the constitution of the European Union. They believed that prohibition of anti-competitive practices, cartels and abuse of dominant position would guarantee the free market and economic efficiency. In 1962, the European Council granted the European Commission additional powers set out by the Regulation 17/1962.