Competition Council of Morocco
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| Arabic: مجلس المنافسة French: Conseil de la concurrence | |
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| Formation | 2000 |
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| Type | Independent administrative authority |
| Headquarters | Rabat, Morocco |
President | Ahmed Rahhou[1] |
| Website | www.conseil-concurrence.ma |
The Competition Council (مجلس المنافسة, Conseil de la concurrence) is an independent administrative authority in Morocco responsible for ensuring compliance with competition rules in markets. It contributes to promoting transparency and fairness in economic relations, particularly by combating anti-competitive practices and overseeing economic concentrations.
The Competition Council was established by Law No. 06–99 on freedom of prices and competition, adopted in 2000. Initially, it mainly exercised an advisory role.
As part of economic and institutional reforms in Morocco, Law No. 104–12 on freedom of prices and competition and Law No. 20-13 relating to the Competition Council, both adopted in 2014, strengthened its powers and established its status as an independent authority with decision-making powers.[2]
The effective implementation of this reform began in 2018, with the appointment of new members and the start of its activities under its new structure.[3]
Missions
The Competition Council is responsible for ensuring the proper functioning of competition in markets.[4]
In this capacity, it is tasked with:[5][6]
- combating anti-competitive practices, such as cartels and abuse of dominant position;
- monitoring economic concentration operations likely to affect competition;
- issuing opinions on competition-related matters, either at the request of the government or on its own initiative;
- proposing measures aimed at improving competitive market functioning.
Powers
The Competition Council has investigative and decision-making powers. It may:[7][8]
- conduct investigations into company practices;
- impose financial penalties in cases of violations of competition rules;
- order corrective measures;
- authorise, prohibit, or impose conditions on certain concentration operations.
Its decisions may be subject to appeal before the competent courts.
Organisation
The Competition Council is composed of twelve members, including a president. The president and six members are appointed by the King of Morocco, while the six other members are proposed respectively by the Head of Government, the president of the House of Representatives and the president of the House of Councillors.[9]
The Council includes magistrates and qualified individuals in the fields of law, economics and competition. Members are appointed for a renewable five-year term.[9]
Functioning
The Council may be referred to by the government, companies, professional organisations, or may act on its own initiative.[10]
Proceedings before the Council respect the adversarial principle, ensuring that parties are able to present their observations.