Following the tabling of 185 amendments, the rapporteur, Stéphanie Yon-Courtin (Renew Europe, French), gave, on Tuesday 24 October, an update on her draft report on European competition policy - 2023 (see EUROPE 13256/14) to the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE).
In particular, she reaffirmed that the response to the US Inflation Reduction Act could not be based solely on State aid, at the risk of fuelling a subsidy race within the EU. Over and above the private investment that the EU needs to develop, Ms Yon-Courtin believes that the ‘European Sovereignty Fund’ is a long-term structural solution that will avoid the fragmentation of the single market that could result from disparities in Member States’ fiscal capacities.
In addition, she wants an acceleration of antitrust procedures and has encouraged the Commission to use structural separation in cases of abuse of a dominant position.
She also called for a new market survey tool to ensure a harmonised approach to ‘shrinkflation’.
A large part of the draft report concerns the application of competition law to digital matters.
Among other things, the rapporteur called for proactive action to address the consequences of artificial intelligence issues for competition. Stéphanie Yon-Courtin regretted that no eCloud service provider was included in the list of six gatekeepers (see EUROPE 13173/37).
Lastly, she advocated a better link between the various sectoral policies and major competition legislation, and the human resources allocated to implement them.
Claude Gruffat (Greens/EFA, French), the only MEP speaking today other than the Chair, Irene Tinagli (S&D, Italian), tabled amendments calling for climate, environmental or social conditionality to be attached to State aid.
Mr Gruffat also opposed tax credits for companies with the sole aim of obtaining a tax reduction without taking into account the general public interest.
In addition, he called for tax exemptions and subsidies for fossil fuels to be abolished by 2025.
Maria Velentza, Director of General Affairs at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Competition, welcomed the draft report overall and shared a number of observations.
She agreed with Ms Yon-Courtin, among others, that State aid should not be the only source of support for economic recovery in Ukraine or Europe.
Ms Velentza was also on the same page with Ms Yon-Courtin regarding the need to speed up antitrust proceedings. The Commission is currently evaluating the antitrust rules. This assessment includes consideration of the use of interim measures.
Finally, Ms Velentza said that initiatives such as the ‘Data Act’ (see EUROPE 13257/30) would complement the EU’s legislative arsenal and the Commission’s action, particularly in designating gatekeepers.
Stéphanie Yon-Courtin is now working on the compromise amendments.
Link to the draft report: https://aeur.eu/f/986 (Original version in French by Émilie Vanderhulst)