Critics of EU compeitition policy branded 'wrong'

European competition commissioner Joaquín Almunia has angrily hit back at critics of EU competition policy.

Speaking in Brussels on Monday, he conceded that, in the wake of the ongoing downturn, there had been calls for the EU to relax its rules on competition policy.

But the Spanish official said, "These are voices that are contrary to our vision and beliefs and, basically, they are wrong."

He said that relaxing competition rules would "severely impair the competitiveness of the EU's economy."

"It would also compromise the route to a long-lasting economic recovery."

"It is for this reason that the European commission will actively support any actions designed to complete the single market."

Almunia, who is serving his second term as a commissioner, was addressing a European Policy Centre (EPC) breakfast briefing on whether EU competition policy is a "help or hindrance" to Europe's economic recovery.

Opening the debate, EPC CEO Hans Martens said, "EU competition policy has been increasingly focusing on consumer welfare over the past few years, with significant efforts to ensure competition enforcement and consumer protection through the opening of markets and tougher regulation across the EU.

"However, in the context of the sluggish economic recovery to date, current competition policy may be limiting businesses in their efforts to recapture pre-crisis positions."

Almunia said the commission will come forward soon with new proposals on a raft of policies, including e-commerce, which he said has "enormous" potential for European SMEs and consumers alike.

There will also be draft legislation on the European "single payment area" and on anti-trust enforcement, an area he concedes where "there is still a lot for us to do."

He said high-speed broadband and the digital agenda will also "play a key role" in Europe's economic recovery.

He reserved particular concern for the energy sector, saying, "It is clear energy sector liberalisation has failed to deliver all the benefits to consumers that it might have done.

"A relative lack of competition in the energy sector is harming European competitiveness," he added.

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