Secretariat
Executive management
Executive Management Profil.
Construction Division
The Construction Division investigates potential restraints of competition in the construction and procurement industries and in relation to environmental matters.
Service Division
The Services Division deals with restraints of competition in banking and insurance, medical services, the liberal professions, advertising and various other personal and commercial services.
Infrastructure Division
The Infrastructure Division deals mainly with the markets that provide the infrastructure and services needed for an efficient economy. These markets include telecommunications, postal services, transport (air transportation and rail traffic) and energy (particularly gas and electricity market).
Product Markets Division
The Product Markets Division deals with the manual and industrial production of consumer and capital goods as well as with trade in these goods.
Resources Division
The service Resources provides the means, both in terms of equipment and personnel, that are needed for management, the planning and the proper functioning of the Secretariat and the Commission.
Internal Market
Under Article 8 paragraph 1 of the Internal Market Act (IMA), the Competition Commission (ComCo) has the task of monitoring compliance with the IMA by the Confederation, cantons and communes and other bodies responsible for public tasks.
The Secretariat's Competence Centres
Details on the following areas: Law, Economics, Internal Market, International Affairs, Communications and Investigations.
The Secretariat
The Competition Commission is supported by a full-time Secretariat. It investigates suspected cartels, preparing case files, which are then submitted to the Competition Commission for a decision to be taken. The institutional separation between the Secretariat, which conducts the investigations, and the Competition Commission, which takes the decisions, ensures quick results that enjoy widespread support.
The Cartel Act also gives the Secretariat advisory duties: the Secretariat regards itself as an institution providing a service, and gives legal advice to businesses and public administrations on competition matters. In addition, it monitors the various markets and keeps up to date with international developments on competition policy. The Secretariat is constantly in contact with businesses and other authorities.
Professionals in the service of competition
More than 70 employees with a wealth of expertise in economic and legal matters work in the Secretariat. They guarantee quick and efficient procedures. Thanks to its competence and its organization, the Secretariat is well prepared to handle the challenge of managing a modern public institution.
The Secretariat is divided into four divisions, each responsible for specific markets : Product Markets, Services, Infrastructure and Construction. In addition, the Resources Division is responsible for administrative and technical tasks within the Secretariat.
The Secretariat is headed by its Executive Board, made up of a Director and four Vice-Directors.
A philosophy
The Secretariat is guided by the credo of efficient competition, which is the main goal of the Cartel Act. It strives to promote economic efficiency in order to increase prosperity for all, and applies the law in a strict but fair way. Active, open and transparent communication, together with a dynamic, innovative and critical work attitude are essential qualities of a Secretariat that aims to be a competence centre as well as the preferred contact for businesses and public authorities.