Brussels, 11/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - Competition Commissioner Mario Monti as well as the Swedish Minister for Industry, Development and Communications, Ms Ulrica Messing, inaugurated on 11 June, in Stockholm, the third "European Competition Day", jointly organised by the European Commission and the Swedish EU Council Presidency. The theme of the event is "Choose to Win", and places emphasis on the wider choice, and better prices and service levels that competition policy aims to ensure for the benefit of consumers. The aim is precisely to inform European citizens on concrete action taken by the competition authorities and the benefits they derive from them.
In his speech, Competition Commissioner Mario Monti recalled that European competition policy was geared to ensure that businesses "compete rather than collude", that market power is not abused and that efficiencies are passed on to final consumers. "When competitive conditions are in place, producers try to attract customers by offering them a lower price, higher quality or better service than their competitors", he stressed.
After the opening speech, the participants discussed the new tools and possibilities available, such as cross-border purchases and the Internet. Market liberalisation, the presentation of a website for young buyers and the pressure instruments of consumers themselves were also among the themes tackled. The first "European Competition Day" was held on 9 June 2000 in Lisbon, the second on 17 October 2000 in Paris, and the next will be organised in the autumn by the Belgian Presidency.