Competition rules should be revised in many areas to adapt them to the digital age, and State aid rules should be used flexibly to help EU companies affected by sanctions against Russia: these were the main recommendations of the European Parliament on Thursday 5 May, which adopted (436 votes in favour, 70 against, 95 abstentions) the report by Andreas Schwab (EPP, Germany) on competition policy in 2021.
On Covid-19, the Parliament calls on the European Commission to present as soon as possible “a timely assessment of the Temporary Framework for State Aid”, which will allow MEPs to conduct a robust and evidence-based policy debate.
The European Commission is asked to monitor the situation closely and, where necessary, to apply the EU State aid framework “with the necessary flexibility” so as to allow Member States to “support those companies and sectors most affected by the ongoing Russian military aggression against Ukraine and those that will suffer as a result of the sanctions imposed on Russia”.
The Parliament says that competition rules should be included in the toolbox to address the negative effects of soaring energy prices and is concerned about the high concentration in the agricultural supply chain. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)