Consumer Involvement in Private EU Competition Law Enforcement

Despite the growing importance of 'consumer welfare' in EU competition law debates, there remains a significant disconnect between rhetoric and reality, as consumers and their interests still play only an ancillary role in this area of law. Consumer Involvement in Private EU Competition Law Enforcement is the first monograph to exclusively address this highly topical and much debated subject, providing a timely and wide-ranging examination of the need for more active consumer participation in competition law. Written by an expert in the field, it sets out a comprehensive framework of policy implications and arguments for greater involvement, positioning the debate in the context of a broader EU law perspective. It outlines pragmatic approaches to remedial and procedural measures that would enable consumer empowerment. Finally, the book identifies key institutional and political obstacles to the adoption of effective measures, and suggests alternative routes to enhance the role of consumers in private competition law enforcement. The book's innovative approach, combining normative analysis and practical solutions, make it invaluable for academics, policy-makers, and practitioners in the field.

Dr Maria Ioannidou is a Lecturer in Competition Law at Queen Mary, University of London. She holds an MPhil and DPhil in EU competition law from the University of Oxford. Her research focuses on the area of EU and UK competition law and in particular on the evaluation and improvement of current enforcement mechanisms. Apart from her main research interest, Maria has also conducted research on various issues relating to competition law enforcement and has recently published papers on EU merger control and international competition law.