Joint Statement by the European Competition Network (ECN) on the implementation of merger call-in mechanisms
The European Competition Network (ECN), which brings together the competition authorities of the EU’s 27 Member States and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Competition, has today published a Joint Statement supporting the use of a “call-in” mechanism in merger control. The Statement recognises that such a mechanism can be an effective and appropriate tool for safeguarding competition both at national level and across the European Economic Area (EEA).
The mechanism, intended as a targeted tool to be used on a case-by-case basis by national competition authorities to review mergers that may raise competition concerns, should be subject to clear substantive and temporal conditions. Such conditions should strike an appropriate balance between effective merger control enforcement and legal certainty and predictability, while alleviating the administrative burden for businesses and competition authorities.
To date, 11 EEA Member States have introduced call-in mechanisms, with a further 12 considering doing so. In France, following the public consultation launched in January 2025, the Autorité de la concurrence is continuing its work and engagement with public authorities on the introduction of a targeted call-in power, aimed at enabling the effective review of mergers that may harm competition in France and undermine the proper functioning of the internal market.