Chapter I: Organisation.

I. – The Competition Authority is an independent administrative authority. It ensures that competition operates freely. It contributes to the competitive operation of markets at European and international level. II. – The powers entrusted to the Competition Authority are exercised by a college composed of seventeen members, including a chairman, appointed for a term of five years by decree issued on the report of the Minister responsible for the economy….

The chairman and vice-chairmen shall perform their duties on a full-time basis. Any member of the authority who has failed to attend three consecutive meetings without good cause shall be declared to have resigned by the Minister for the Economy. The Government Commissioner to the authority shall be appointed by the Minister for the Economy.

The Competition Authority may sit either in plenary session, in sections or as a standing committee. The standing committee is made up of the chairman and four vice-chairmen. The authority’s panels deliberate by a majority of the members present. The authority’s rules of procedure shall determine the quorum criteria applicable to each of these panels. In the event of a tied vote, the chairman of the panel shall have the…

The Autorité de la concurrence shall have investigation departments headed by a rapporteur general appointed by order of the minister responsible for the economy after consulting the college. These departments carry out the investigations necessary for the application of Titles II, III and VI of this Book. The deputy rapporteurs general, the permanent or non-permanent rapporteurs and the investigators of the investigating departments are appointed by the rapporteur general, by…

Parliamentary committees responsible for competition matters may hear the chairman of the Competition Authority and consult the latter on any matter falling within its remit.