Competition policy. 31st report 2001

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Alain LIPIETZ (Greens/EFA, France) on the Commission's report on competition policy. (Please refer to the document dated 8/10/02.) In general, Parliament welcomed the action taken by the Commission and congratulated Commissioner Monti on the approach adopted. It stated that even in markets with low rates of mergers where competition theoretically exists, restrictive agreements might occur which promote price-fixing or excessively high margins. It is in the consumer's interest to obtain better quality and improved services at a lower price, but what consumers want above all is that the service required actually exists. The consumer is above all a citizen and resident who may use his vote to assert his demand for a general interest service in a specific form.�