EU Antitrust Commissioner Considers US Style Procedures

In a speech at a conference last week, Neelie Kroes recommended that the EU consider US style plea bargaining and whistleblower protections in order to enhance antitrust enforcement.  Stressing the need for harmonization in international antitrust enforcement, particularly in area of cartelization, Commissioner Kroes pointed out the need to emulate certain US enforcement tools, such as secret grand jury investigations and threat of criminal prosecution.