European Economic
and Social Committee
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:
- Report on Competition Policy 2013 (INT/746)
- Report on Competition Policy 2012 (INT/702)
- Antitrust Damages Actions/Quantification of harm (INT/706)
- Report on Competition Policy 2011 (INT/650)
-
Report on Competition Policy 2010 (INT/594)
For more information please contact the INT Section Secretariat