Policy Brief | Issue 13 | February 8, 2024


The German Monopolies Commission on competition in the food supply chains

The Monopolies Commission recommends that interventions in agricultural markets or food supply chains to strengthen the market position of farmers should only be made cautiously and on a clear factual basis:

  • The structures of the food supply chain in Germany show signs of competition problems and potential market power.
  • Various instruments already exist to regulate these markets, but some of these have only recently come into effect and their consequences have not yet been conclusively evaluated.
  • A final assessment is reserved for a more detailed evaluation.

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Sector Report on German energy markets pursuant to Sec. 62 of the Energy Regulation Act, October 9, 2023


  • Competition-based security of energy supply is required.
  • The import structure for gas should be more diversified and flexible.
  • In the electricity sector, the Monopolies Commission recommends a competition-oriented capacity market.
  • The Energy price caps should be phased out; direct transfer payments are preferable to price interventions at the household level.
  • In the case of electric mobility, tenders must be supported at the municipal level and several competitors must be allowed to compete at service stations.



Sector Report on German railway markets pursuant to Sec. 78 of the Railway Regulation Act, July 4, 2023


  • The planned restructuring of the Deutsche Bahn (DB) Group offers opportunities for competition in the railway sector. To this end, the new infrastructure unit InfraGo should be economically and organizationally independent.
  • A prerequisite for stimulating competition and increasing the attractiveness of rail is higher infrastructure quality. The Monopolies Commission, therefore, recommends a new qualityoriented regulatory framework for charges.
  • Innovative sales service providers of digital tickets can also contribute to quality, provided they are given access to all real-time and forecast infrastructure data relevant to competition. InfraGo would have to make this data equally available to all competitors.