Today, the European Commission has published the 2022 Eurobarometer surveys dedicated to EU competition policy. The surveys show strong support among citizens and Small and Medium Enterprises (‘SMEs') for both competition policy and its enforcement.
Keynote by Executive Vice-President Vestager,
European Competition Law Tuesdays, Brussels,
25 October 2022.
[...] "in our interactions with global stakeholders, it is not the ‘EU's way of doing things' that we are seeking to defend and promote. Rather, it is the principles which underpin fair and effective competition, which protect the well-being of consumers and which lead to growth and innovation."
The purpose of this initiative is to extend the period of validity of the block exemption rules for specialisation agreements. This will give sufficient time to revise the rules and avoid any regulatory gaps or legal uncertainty.
The purpose of this initiative is to extend the period of validity of the block exemption rules for research and development agreements. This will give sufficient time to revise the rules and avoid any regulatory gaps or legal uncertainty.
Today, European Commission Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, US Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan and the Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust of the US Department of Justice Jonathan Kanter met in Brussels for the second meeting of the EU-US Joint Technology Competition Policy Dialogue (‘TCPD').
Remarks by Executive Vice-President Vestager,
the Schwarzkopf Foundation,
13 October 2022.
[...] "for competition to be fair, the playing field must be level. Our competition rules are there to make sure that happens - in other words, to make sure that what determines the winners and losers is how well they play the game, and nothing else." [...]
Speech by Executive Vice-President Vestager,
Annual Conference of the EU Heads of Delegation, Brussels,
11 October 2022.
[...] "Dear colleagues, in this global technology race, digital has become the new way of speaking about human rights. Take it on board, make it part of your core tasks as diplomats. Do not ignore it because it sounds technical or complicated. We have a duty towards human rights, and that is a matter of the heart. One should not ignore matters of the heart."
An explanation of the Digital Markets Act and how it will bring fairer conditions to consumers and businesses for digital services across the EU.
Speech by Executive Vice-President Vestager,
European Competition day 2022, Prague,
10 October 2022.
[...] "But the sense of common purpose that I feel all around Europe is also present in our work as competition policy enforcers. With ECN+, and with the new application of Article 22 of the Merger Regulation, the Commission and the National Competition Authorities are more a team now than ever before." [...]
Speech by Executive Vice-President Vestager,
IBEC Conference, Dublin,
30 September 2022.
[...] "For the DMA, it is also now time to look at enforcement. It is our enforcement action that will bring changes on the ground. We've passed the first hurdle with the adoption of the legislation in record time. That was the easy part. Now expectations are high that Europe delivers the needed changes in how digital platforms operate. As the first global regulator of systemic big tech practices, we will have other jurisdictions watching. And for our enforcement to be a success, we will also rely on third-parties to detect non-compliance with the DMA or assess compliance proposals by gatekeepers." [...]
Speech by Executive Vice-President Vestager,
BEUC conference on consumer protection in the digital age, Brussels,
27 September 2022.
[...] "in DG Competition. As defenders of free and fair markets, our decisions have a direct impact on our lives, as you know very well. After all, behind these ‘markets' are people - consumers, families, citizens. That is why we have decided to organise a conference on ‘Making Markets Work for People', to take place here in Brussels on 27 October." [...]
EVP Vestager remarks at Webinar with the European Central Bank,
27 September 2022.
[...] " that is why we tabled the Digital Markets Act, that will enter into force in only a few weeks, and that will give us more powers to make sure large digital platforms do not squeeze out small businesses. To ensure a level playing field online and forbid practices like harmful forms of self-preferencing." [...]
Speech by Executive Vice-President Vestager,
6th Conference of the Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen,
23 September 2022.
[...] "Now with a new law called the Digital Markets Act we will have even more powers to make sure large digital platforms do not squeeze out small businesses.." [...]
Speech by Executive Vice-President Vestager,
Fordham's 49th Annual Conference on International Antitrust Law and Policy, New York City,
16 September 2022.
[...] "Preserving a vibrant, diverse and open digital economy is not a luxury. Preventing a handful of companies from freely controlling how businesses can interact with their customers, or from deciding the rules of the game when it comes to life online is not a luxury.." [...]
Economic study to obtain:
The European Commission's Directorate-General for Competition is honoured to be among the winners of this year's GCR Awards. Indeed, the European Commission won the prestigious GCR Award for the Government Agency of the Year. Moreover, our Google Shopping decision has been recognised as the Enforcement Action of the Year.
See also more information on the Google Shopping decision.
The Commission welcomes the adoption by the European Parliament of the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act, proposed by the Commission in December 2020.
The Commission welcomes the political agreement reached today between the European Parliament and EU Member States on the Foreign Subsidies Regulation (‘FSR'). The FSR is an important addition to the EU toolbox to address distortions caused by foreign subsidies and ensure a level playing field for all companies operating in the EU Single Market.
See also Statement by Executive Vice-President Vestager.
DG Competition invites you to the virtual workshop Estimating the 'costs of non-competition' for the EU economy on 23 June 2022. The workshop will be hosted by the Chief Economist and the Principal Adviser for economic ex-post evaluation of DG Competition.
The subject of this call for tenders is the provision of expert consultancy services and studies in relation to digital services in the context of enforcement of competition law and of ensuring contestability and fairness in that sector.
