The European Union has committed to a green transition with the aim of becoming the first carbon-neutral continent. Ambitious goals are presented in the European Green Deal and
further defined in sectoral secondary legislation. A project of such significance, calls for the adjustment of most of the EU policies, as the goals can only be achieved through an interdisciplinary coordinated approach. Competition policy is crucial for the efficient functioning of the internal market and has traditionally been understood as independent and separate from other policies. Its independence is evidenced by the fact that it has remained
relatively unchanged despite the many crises in recent decades. In light of the green transition, the European Commission has begun seeking appropriate ways to incorporate
sustainability aspects into the competition framework. This master's thesis explores whether such integration is possible and appropriate within the existing regulatory framework and the objectives of competition law. Opportunities and challenges in each of the traditional
areas of competition law are presented, with a particular focus on antitrust and mergers, as well as a review of developments in the field of state aid. The master’s thesis finds that integrating sustainability and competition law could be possible, but it must be done with careful consideration and caution, the existing framework is more than sufficient for incorporating sustainability. In any case the primary principles and goals of competition law
should not be put aside in the name of sustainability.
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