Sentence:  Can one sustain an accusation that EC law serves to evacuate the public authorities in the Member States from the task of regulating the market inter alia in order to protect the consumer from the harsher excesses of <WSD>bare-knuckle</WSD> competition? 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Characterized by ruthlessly attacking or overpowering an opponent, especially when using underhanded techniques.