Report on Competition Policy 2012

This page is also available in:

Hyväksytyt on 16/10/2013
Viite
INT/702-EESC-2013-01-01-4092
Opinion Type
Referral
Referral
COM(2013) 257 final
Official Journal
OJ C 67, 06.03.2014, p.74
Rapporteur
Mr Juan Mendoza Castro
Workers - GR II
Spain
Plenary session number
493
-
Download — EESC opinion: Report on Competition Policy 2012
docx
bg
cs
da
de
el
en
es
et
fi
fr
hr
hu
it
lt
lv
mt
nl
pl
pt
ro
sk
sl
sv

See EESC opinion in all languages under Related documents at the end of this page.

Key points

The EESC:

  • believes that it was right to "carry on as usual" in the field of competition despite the economic crisis;
  • warns that the aid given to the financial sector will only be justified if the current reform prevents repetition of the irresponsible behaviour that led to the financial crisis;
  • expresses doubts whether the liberalisation in the field of the EU energy policy has brought more competition, more transparent markets and lower prices for users;
  • stresses that in the telecommunication market the principal goals should be a genuine reduction in telephone charges for households and businesses, high-quality broadband connections for all, abolition of roaming charges, and a single EU regulator;
  • warns that in high-technology sectors where there is constant innovation, the lengthy period of time between the start of proceedings and the adoption of decisions can result even in the disappearance of companies;
  • points to the need for greater harmonisation in the e-book market to prevent arbitrage and to move towards market integration;
  • welcomes and supports the Commission's endeavours to penalise abuse of patents by large pharmaceutical companies, creating barriers to the generic medicines market.

Related EESC Opinions: