Strasbourg, 16/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - In response, on Wednesday, to an oral question put by Klaus-Heiner Lehne (EPP-ED, Germany) during the Strasbourg plenary, European Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said she did not agree with establishing compulsory tariffs for the legal profession. The oral question, which was originally raised by Giuseppe Gargani (EPP-ED, Italy) on behalf of the Committee on Legal Affairs, was to know whether, in comparison with other economic activities, the legal professions (lawyer, notaries and tax advisers) can benefit from specific treatment. In posing the question, the Commissioner felt that such practice would run counter to competition rules and to consumers' interests. According to the case-law of the European Court of Justice, Member States may fix a compulsory tariffs as long as such behaviour does not hamper competition. The Committee on Legal Affairs is in favour of establishing compulsory tariffs which take into account the general interest and the interest of consumers.