Brussels, 22/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - The CCIA (Computer & Communications Industry Association), the trade group that brings together and defends the interests of around 13,000 members and which sought to denounce Microsoft's trade practices to the European Commission, is overjoyed at the decision the European Executive is preparing to submit next Wednesday (EUROPE 19 March p 7). The CCIA considers, however, that this decision is only "the tip of the iceberg" and is only the beginning of a much vaster awareness of the multiple abuses committed by the Microsoft monopoly in other sectors. According to the president of the CCIA, Ed Black, the decision "sends a strong message both to companies who have suffered from Microsoft's abuses and to anti-trust authorities world-wide. It encourages the former to come forward with information and evidence on alleged abuses and the latter to act decisively".
A final meeting of the consultative meeting of Member State experts took place on Monday to set the amount for the fine on Microsoft before the official publication of the decision on Wednesday. Commissioner Monti's spokesperson Amelia Torres, refused to comment on the results of the meeting, indicating the need for confidentiality but committee members, it appears quite quickly reached a general consensus.