Merger control is a key component of competition regimes as it prevents harm from anti-competitive transactions. To ensure effective and transparent merger control, merger review systems should be equipped with efficient procedures to make well-reasoned decisions while keeping flexibility to address changing market realities.
The digitalisation of the economy as well as the need to account for dynamic competition and innovation are examples of how market realities and businesses are evolving.
In June 2025, the OECD Council revised its Recommendation on Merger Review [OECD/LEGAL/0333] to reflect the latest developments and internationally recognised best practices in merger review and analysis.
Almost at the same time, the European Commission launched two parallel public consultations in the context of its review process of its Merger Guidelines after about 20 years since their introduction. The European Commission aims to update the assessment framework of mergers in light of its recent practice, as well as to reflect case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union.
On 22 January, the OECD Competition Division and the European Commission Directorate-General for Competition (DG COMP) hosted an event to bring together key findings from the revision of the OECD Recommendation and the European Commission’s public consultation. Experts on merger control discussed current international best practices and principles that govern merger control, touching upon aspects of competitiveness, resilience and the effects of mergers on innovation.
The event publicly presented the revision of the OECD Recommendation on Merger Review amended by the OECD Council meeting at Ministerial level on 3 June 2025 and showcased core insights from the European Commission’s public consultation.
WATCH THE EVENT ON REPLAY BELOW
