The EU Commission updates its Guidance on the practice and policy of obtaining leniency in cartel cases

Seeking to clarify its policy and encourage leniency applicants to come forward, the European Commission ("Commission") has published new guidance on its approach to leniency and its Leniency Notice. [1] The new guidance comes in the form of Frequently Asked Questions ("FAQs"). [2] The FAQs provide guidance on the fundamental principles underpinning the EU's leniency programme such as the definition of a cartel, the key conditions of the leniency programme, procedural aspects when contacting the Commission (including its recently upgraded eLeniency online platform). The FAQs also seek to highlight the protections and benefits available to leniency applicants beyond those described in the Commission's Leniency Notice. Background Under the Leniency Notice, companies that provide