Competition policy – annual report 2021 (debate)
Speaker: Andreas SCHWAB (Germany, Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) / Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands)
Date: 2022-05-04

  Andreas Schwab,  Berichterstatter. – Herr Präsident, Frau Vizepräsidentin, liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Der Jahresbericht zur Wettbewerbspolitik ist immer ein guter Gradmesser darüber, wo Europa in Sachen Offenheit seiner eigenen Märkte und Wettbewerbsfähigkeit seiner eigenen Wirtschaft steht. Bevor wir allerdings zu den einzelnen Inhalten kommen, erlaube ich mir zunächst mal, den Kollegen aus dem Wirtschaftsausschuss, aber natürlich vor allem auch dem Kollegen Andrea Caroppo, der die Stellungnahme des Binnenmarkt-Ausschusses verfasst hat, zu danken. 
Ich glaube, dass man einleitend sagen muss, dass die Ukrainekrise, die russische Aggression gegen die Ukraine, wirtschaftlich und wahrscheinlich auch im Wettbewerbsrecht und bei der Wettbewerbspolitik vieles von dem, was wir als Gewissheit angesehen haben, infrage stellt und sich deswegen viele wettbewerbsrechtliche und wettbewerbspolitische Fragen in den kommenden Jahren neu stellen. Aber das ist etwas, was viele Politikbereiche betrifft, und deswegen verdient es heute hier vielleicht noch nicht die besondere Aufmerksamkeit.
Colleagues, the report is focusing on four major points that have to be addressed soon by the European Commission. The first is – and that’s a bit the backward—looking part of the report – post—COVID—19 phasing out of specific pandemic support measures. 
Secondly, achieving the Green Deal and digital transformation. Here we have to look for recovery and the Green Deal to be combined. C, or third, the rise of e—commerce and the importance of large online platforms for competition rules. We have already discussed about that in this committee with a lot of colleagues that are here today when addressing the key proposals of the digital market act.
Finally, as a fourth element, mergers and antitrust: how new digital markets require an update of the notice and the definition of relevant markets. 
Colleagues, first I would like to stress that one of our priorities was to mention the necessity to phase out pandemic support measures step—by—step. I am a bit unhappy that today my group chairman has fallen ill because of COVID. It will hopefully be very easy, but we still hope that it will go away fully and, at least in competition policy, we believe that we have to call for a phase—out of the pandemic support measures. 
In this regard, the report highlights that the pandemic is ending and that we must return to market discipline. Markets need to do their work again to deliver innovation, growth and more choice for consumers. Moreover, colleagues, the European Parliament affirmed the importance to have competition policy tools that are well adjusted and complement one another. They will facilitate the twin transition between green and digital and will guarantee a level playing field, price signals for innovation and fair economic conditions. 
In our report, together with my colleagues, the shadow rapporteurs, we assessed the crucial importance of a review of competition policy instruments in the light of then twin transition and COVID pandemic. Especially important was the planned revision of the general bloc exemption regulation. 
Another key element we achieved in the report has been the reference to enforcement of the DMA and DSA. We firmly pointed out that the Commission’s priority must be to ensure and to enforce DSA and DMA strongly, to show that Europe delivers contestable markets, fairness and the rule of law on the Internet. This is a very strong commitment that we share with all our colleagues. 
Therefore, we expect the Commission to provide adequate resources, and we expect the Member States to give the Commission the money to allow for adequate resources in that respect. In this regard, I brought to the attention of the Commission the necessity to create more positions to face the growing portfolio of responsibilities since, for the first time, we are giving the Commission a direct enforcement power for two harmonisation instruments. The letter that we have been addressing, together with shadows, to the French Presidency is known by you.
Colleagues, the two other elements that I have been mentioning at the beginning are as important as the last one, and I will come back to that after your comments. I am looking now forward to an open debate and I thank you for your attention.