EU cartel leniency programme: immunity, fine reductions, application process, cooperation obligations, confidentiality, and the ECN/ECN+ framework
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The European Commission’s (Commission) leniency programme
This scheme incentivises undertakings involved in cartels (contrary to Article 101 TFEU) to provide evidence and information that enables the Commission to open an investigation. Leniency is available only to undertakings that have participated in a cartel; it does not apply to other breaches of EU competition law.
Two core principles underpin the Commission’s leniency programme:
- The sooner an applicant contacts the Commission, the greater the reward, potentially amounting to immunity from the fine or a reduction in the fine;
- The extent of any reward depends on the added value of the information supplied over and above what the Commission already possesses.
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Web page updated on 21/05/2026
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