32Finally, this interpretation of the first sentence of Article 11(6) is borne out by the objective pursued by that regulation. As is apparent from recitals 6 and 8 thereof, the regulation seeks to ensure that the EU competition rules are applied effectively by empowering the competition authorities of the Member States to apply that law in parallel with the Commission. The parallel application of those rules must, however, also be consistent and ensure that the network of public authorities in charge of the implementation of those rules is managed in the best possible way. As recital 17 of that regulation states, it is in order to ensure those objectives that there is provision for the national competition authorities to be relieved of their competence in favour of the Commission where the latter initiates proceedings. Furthermore, the parallel application of those rules cannot be at the expense of undertakings. National competition authorities being relieved of their competence makes it possible to protect the undertakings from parallel proceedings brought by those authorities and the Commission (see, to that effect, judgment of 11 November 1981, IBM v Commission, 60/81, EU:C:1981:264, paragraph 18, and order of 29 January 2020, Silgan Closures and Silgan Holdings v Commission, C‑418/19 P, not published, EU:C:2020:43, paragraph 73).
Source: EUR-Lex, © European Union, 1998-2026. Reuse authorised under Decision 2011/833/EU.