CMA publishes Annual Plan 2021 to 2022

This comes as the CMA takes on additional responsibilities for global competition and consumer investigations, following the end of the EU Exit transition period, and as it works to establish the new Digital Markets Unit and the Office for the Internal Market. In taking on its new responsibilities, the CMA will continue to protect consumers and ensure that businesses operate within the law, during and beyond the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

In 2021/22, the CMA will focus on the following themes:

• protecting consumers and driving recovery during and after the coronavirus pandemic, focusing in particular on: protecting the vulnerable from breaches of competition and consumer protection laws and poorly functioning markets, as well as supporting the UK economy by fostering competition to promote innovation, productivity and growth
• taking its place as a global competition and consumer protection authority as it assumes new responsibilities after the EU Exit Transition Period
• fostering effective competition in digital markets
• supporting the transition to a low carbon economy

During the consultation process for the draft Annual Plan, the CMA sought insight directly from consumers, representative charities and businesses. As well as the 164 people and organisations who made written submissions, the CMA talked directly to stakeholders at 13 virtual events across all 4 nations of the UK.