Foreign subsidies that distort competition

The European Commission monitors subsidies granted by third countries that distort competition and jeopardise the level playing field for companies in the European internal market. The Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) covers, inter alia, concentrations and public procurement procedures, and grants the Commission extensive powers of investigation and access to information.

The FSR is applied exclusively by the European Commission. The Commission is assisted by designated authorities in each Member State. In Finland, these tasks are carried out by the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (FCCA).

The FCCA acts as the national contact point for the flow of information between the Commission and national authorities. To carry out this task, the FCCA will have the right to receive information under the FSR from other national authorities and procuring entities, notwithstanding confidentiality provisions. The FCCA will also have the authority to conduct inspections in accordance with the FSR in Finland at the request of the Commission, or to assist the Commission in its inspections conducted in Finland. The FCCA’s tasks are based on the Act on the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority.