Spain’s path towards sustainable competition: Developments, Gaps and Opportunities

Andrew Ward, Andrea Díez de Uré and Elena Roca-Umbert, partner and associates in Competition and European Union Law at Gómez-Acebo & Pombo, have contributed to the chapter on Spain in the American Bar Association (ABA) International Competition Law Committee’s publication entitled “International Competition Law Perspectives: SUSTAINABILITY AND COMPETITION LAW”.

In this chapter on competition and sustainability in Spain, titled “Spain’s Path Towards Sustainable Competition: Evolution, Gaps, and Opportunities,” the focus is on how sustainability has emerged as a fundamental pillar in the public policies of Europe and Spain. This is reflected across all regulations, especially through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by the UN member states in 2015. The agenda establishes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at economic growth, environmental protection, and social progress, with a focus on human rights. This global commitment obliges institutions to adapt their policies to address the challenges of sustainability. The article examines the integration of sustainability in Spanish competition policy, highlighting the progress made, the challenges ahead, as well as the leadership of the European Commission and the evolution of the CNMC, which has incorporated the SDGs into its strategy, promotion, and analysis of agreements and mergers. It also considers the contributions of the Catalan Competition Authority in this area.

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