In the wake of the publication of Mario Draghi’s report on European competitiveness (see EUROPE 13478/1), the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) expressed concern about the impact of certain recommendations in sectors such as telecoms.
While welcoming the recommendations concerning the reduction of energy prices or the need to finalise the Union of capital markets, BEUC is wary of those relating to consolidation (dissolving several companies to create a single new one).
“A recent Commission report found that EU markets have tended to consolidate over the past 25 years, resulting in higher prices in sectors such as telecommunications and air transport”, writes BEUC.
“It is not by increasing the power of large companies that businesses become more competitive on the world stage. Further consolidation and deregulation in markets such as telecommunications is likely to reduce competition, and it is consumers who could well pay the price”, warns Agustín Reyna, Director General of BEUC. (Original version in French by Isalia Stieffatre)