The Belgian Competition Authority has published its 2026 Priorities Paper, outlining an ambitious enforcement and policy agenda focused on safeguarding competitive markets amid economic uncertainty, digital transformation, and structural change across key sectors of the Belgian economy. The authority emphasises that competition policy remains essential to ensuring that economies of scale, industrial consolidation, and technological innovation benefit consumers through lower prices, improved quality, and greater innovation, rather than leading to excessive market power.
The authority identifies several sectors as requiring particular vigilance due to their strategic importance, structural risks, or ongoing transformation. The agri-food sector remains a top priority given its central role in the Belgian economy and the risks associated with concentration, price volatility, and supply chain dynamics. The authority will continue to scrutinise consolidation, contractual practices, and price revision mechanisms, while also considering the competition implications of sustainability initiatives and the sector’s transition toward more environmentally sustainable production.
Digital markets and telecommunications are another major focus, reflecting the growing importance of online platforms, digital infrastructure, and connectivity. The authority will monitor the competitive effects of digital platforms, access to essential infrastructure, and potential barriers to entry, particularly in telecommunications markets where consolidation and technological investment may reshape competition. The broader digitalisation of economic activity, including the integration of digital components across sectors, is also expected to remain a core enforcement concern.
Healthcare and pharmaceuticals represent a further priority area, with the authority highlighting risks related to consolidation, pricing practices, and information exchange. Particular attention will be paid to hospital mergers, pharmaceutical market dynamics, and the competitive implications of digital health technologies and access to health-related data. The authority will also ensure that collaboration between industry participants remains compatible with competition law, especially where innovation or regulatory constraints create incentives for coordination.
More broadly, the authority recognises the importance of the service sector, including professional services and regulated professions, as a key driver of economic growth. It will continue to assess whether regulatory frameworks unnecessarily restrict competition or market entry and will advocate reforms where needed. Similarly, the media, sports, and entertainment sectors will remain under observation due to increasing concentration and their economic and social significance.
Public procurement and labour markets also feature prominently in the authority’s enforcement strategy. The authority will focus on detecting and deterring bid-rigging and collusion in public tenders, particularly in high-risk sectors such as construction, IT services, and security. It will also intensify efforts to address anti-competitive agreements in labour markets, including wage-fixing and no-poach arrangements, which have emerged as an important enforcement priority globally.
In addition to sector-specific enforcement, the authority intends to expand its use of investigative tools, including sector inquiries and market monitoring, to identify structural competition concerns at an early stage. It will strengthen cooperation with sector regulators, economic inspection authorities, and the Price Observatory to improve detection of competition risks. The authority also emphasises advocacy and compliance initiatives, including guidance for businesses, awareness campaigns, and cooperation with stakeholders, to promote a stronger competition culture.