Report on Competition Policy 2016

Key points

The EESC:

• supports the Report on Competition Policy for 2016 on the whole, but believes that EU competition policy requires better definition and that it is often out of step with other EU policies that influence it;
• believes that the following issues should be subject to continual monitoring: the business practices of large retail groups which destroy smaller companies – as a result of aggressive negotiations – and limit consumer choices; unclear pricing formulas, for example in relation to energy and fuel prices, which affect businesses and consumers; and dumping practices which continue – particularly in the transport and distribution sector;
• calls on the Commission to establish genuinely effective corrective measures in the area of mergers and concentrations and to closely monitor the activities of large groups, safeguarding compliance with the rules as well as consumer and SMEs' interests.

For more information please contact the INT Section Secretariat.

Other relevant EESC opinions

• Report on Competition Policy 2015 (EESC 4505-2016 - INT/800)
• Report on Competition Policy 2014 (EESC  EESC 3837-2015 - INT/771)
• Report on Competition Policy 2013 (EESC 3690-2014 - INT/746)
• Antitrust Damages Actions/Quantification of harm (EESC 4975-2013 - INT/706)
• Competitiveness Programme (EESC 808-2012 - INT/619)