The Introduction of Class-Action Lawsuits in Competition Law: A Comparative Analysis English and French Legal Mechanisms

Originating in the United States, the debate over the introduction of a class action procedure has been ongoing in France and across Europe for some thirty years. Despite numerous attempts to strengthen private enforcement-notably through the establishment of extensive legal frameworks-the European Commission has noted a genuine "underdevelopment" of private actions in the area of antitrust law. It was not until the early 2000s, therefore, that-at the urging of the European Union-certain Member States began to address the much-debated question of whether to introduce class-action lawsuits in competition law. It is in light of this European political will that this book on Franco-British comparative law will seek to examine the benefits and drawbacks of such actions.