Berlin/Bonn, 14 October 2026 – In a new special report, the Monopolies Commission recommends strengthening the independence of the German Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) from political influence. It also recommends a digital overhaul of the Office. The report was prompted by developments at competition authorities abroad and by far-reaching changes in the markets.
We have seen in the US and elsewhere how quickly politics can undermine competition authorities. That must not happen to the Federal Cartel Office. It has done outstanding work since its foundation in 1958. We want to protect that for the future. At the same time, we believe the Federal Cartel Office can improve further, particularly by adopting more effective digital tools and a sharper focus on innovation.
The Monopolies Commission bases its recommendations on three criteria for a future-proof authority: independence, openness to change and effectiveness.
The Monopolies Commission advises the Federal Government on competition matters. The report will be handed over to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy in Berlin. Work began in late 2025. The Federal Cartel Office enforces competition law in Germany: it uncovers price-fixing by companies, reviews mergers and has taken action against big tech firms in recent years.
Safeguarding independence
Independence from political interference as well as within the Office itself is essential for effective competition enforcement. The President of the Federal Cartel Office should in future be appointed through an open, publicly advertised selection process based on clear criteria. The term of office should be limited to a single fixed term, with no option of reappointment. This would make it harder for political influence to shape how the Office carries out its work. The Office should also publish a list of its priorities, which would make its work easier to follow and strengthen confidence in its independence.
Decisions on individual cases are taken by the Office’s Decision Divisions, which are not subject to any instructions. This tried-and-tested principle should be retained and expressly enshrined in the law. In particularly important cases, panels of five instead of three people should decide, bringing in a wider range of perspectives.
Making the Office more open to change
An external Chief Economist should bring independent economic expertise into the Office’s work. A new head of Monitoring, Innovation and Technology, also recruited externally, should pool the Office’s existing data and technology expertise. In addition, more specialists with a technical or scientific background should join the case teams. So far, casework has been handled mainly by people with a background in law or economics.
The Office should build a data-driven competition monitoring system to identify emerging competition problems in individual markets early – including in areas that have so far received little attention.
That would be a quantum leap in protecting competition.
We need ex-post evaluations – reviews that look back to ask: what was the outcome? We can learn a great deal from that.
Keeping the Office effective in the long term
The Monopolies Commission also proposes modernising how proceedings are conducted. End-to-end digital case management can simplify casework and speed up proceedings. The Office should also structure proceedings more clearly and uphold the rights of the companies concerned with the help of a Procedural Officer.
For its special report ‘A Strong Federal Cartel Office – Competition of the Future’, the Monopolies Commission analysed experience from other countries and consulted numerous public authorities, associations and other experts in Germany and abroad.
