On Tuesday 25 April, MEPs on the European Parliament’s Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) adopted by 39 votes to 8 with 2 abstentions the draft report by René Repasi (S&D, German) on European competition policy for 2022. Most of the amendments and all the compromise amendments were adopted.
In the report, MEPs insist on taking innovation into account. They welcome the fact that the European Commission is considering not only the price of a product to define the relevant market, but also its degree of innovation.
In the context of the Russian military aggression against Ukraine and the response to the US Inflation Reduction Act, MEPs highlight the need to coordinate actions adopted under the Temporary Crisis Framework. They also want any flexibility granted in this context to remain targeted and temporary, and not create permanent distortions in the internal market.
MEPs insist that competition policy must be consistent with European policy objectives. They want the Commission to authorise notified aid only if it pursues an objective of common interest. Furthermore, they encourage Member States to introduce new binding conditions for the granting of State aid.
Link to the draft report: https://aeur.eu/f/6ji
Link to the compromise amendments: https://aeur.eu/f/6je (Original version in French by Emilie Vanderhulst)