Report on Competition Policy 2014

EESC opinion: Report on Competition Policy 2014

Key points:

The EESC:

  • supports the steps taken by the Commission to ensure compliance with competition rules, including measures to tackle anti-competitive practices – such as the abuse of a dominant position – which hinder the economic development of the EU;
  • does regret, however, that the Commission has failed to adopt a genuine legal mechanism for collective actions that would provide effective enforcement of the right to damages for those affected by anti-competitive practices;
  • welcomes the impetus given by the Commission to cooperation with national competition authorities, which have a key role to play and should have the necessary means to carry out this work;
  • supports the changes to State aid rules which have been aligned so as to support innovative enterprises, particularly in the digital domain;
  • would like the Commission to continue to take steps to rectify fiscal and social distortions, while ensuring that this does not lead to a race to the bottom;
  • believes that the measures to open up the energy market should benefit consumers, who lack genuine scope for negotiation;
  • calls for every effort to be made to provide free access to digital infrastructure so as to enable rural areas to develop;
  • notes that it is essential to follow up and assess any policy measures taken.

 

Other relevant EESC opinions:

 

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