Brussels, 29/10/2003 (Agence Europe) - National regulations governing liberal professions include too many anticompetitive elements and should be the object of progressive modernisation in order to align themselves with the Lisbon targets (make the European economy the most competitive and dynamic by 2010), feels the European Competition Commissioner, Mario Monti.
Last Tuesday, during a press conference held in Brussels, Mr Monti spoke representatives from the professions concerned of the need to introduce more liberalisation in the sector, and called for professional associations to work in this direction as they are in the best position to act. According to Mr Monti, three conditions are crucial to ensure that consumers get the best service at the best price: the presence of advertising that allows for the comparison of rates, tables of certified prices and a sufficiently large range of services and service providers. It seems difficult to have the highest satisfaction and the best cost-benefit ratio if advertising is controlled or banned, if prices are nonnegotiable, if the development of the activity is submitted to strict rules and/or if certain specific services are imposed rather than requested, underlined the Commissioner. Mr Monti also feels that the absence of informative advertising maintains consumers in ignorance and favours price collusion between members of the same profession.
By launching the debate, the Commission aims to put pressure on the national authorities in order for them to cast doubt over the rules that close markets and thus are in contradiction with European competition rules. Mario Monti warned that the Commission may also make use of anti-trust legislation (Article 81 of the Treaty) should the need arise: in the context of the liberal professions, we have yet to make much use of this power, but the power to act exists.
The Commissioner welcomes the ideas that emerged from the consultation process launched last spring. Thus, the International League for Competition Law (LIDC) has just adopted a resolution calling for the introduction of codes of conduct, in order to specify the aims of current regulation.
As for the Commission, DG Competition has just got started on the preparation of a report to be published at the beginning of 2004, which will detail the value of reform in the sector and will suggest avenues for action by the member states. Comments gathered during the consultation phase will support the conclusions (on this point see today's Beyond the headlines).