Debate: Competition policy – annual report
Date: MONDAY, 7 JUNE 2021
Speaker: Margrethe Vestager
Language: EN

The words on the temporary framework: I do understand why that creates a lot of debate, but looking forward – also reflecting on some of the last remarks – I think it’s really important that we are cautious not to create a cliff—edge. The temporary framework is set to stop by the end of this year, but we already now are sharing with Member States the different things that can be done for the sectors which are really, really challenged – tourism, culture, mobility, hospitality – for instance, to create a fund where a state guarantee crowds in private investment in order to enable capital for the businesses where capital has been completely depleted. That is the thing to do. And just this week, we sent a number of questions to Member States to get their insight as to what is needed in order to make sure that we make the most of the support that was already given. One feature that I will mention here is the feature that you can actually transfer what was given as a loan into a grant in order not to nullify all the efforts done to make businesses survive this crisis when the states asked them to close the door – because this is so different from any other normal crisis; this is a situation where the states, because of the health situation, asked businesses to close their doors. Here I think it is fully legitimate for the states, for us as taxpayers, to step in, to make sure that they have a fair chance of coming back, doing the best they can and serve us and be available for the green and the digital transition. On exactly that question, what a state does must be in accordance with the legislation, but taking direct commitments on social affairs or green, that has to be really considered. And this is why, as of today, we have launched a consultation on the climate, energy and environmental aid guidelines. Where and how do we in the best possible way enable the transition while still maintaining the drivers of fair competition? And one of the questions asked initially sheds light on one of the things I’m aware of on a very daily basis: competition law enforcement is a strong instrument, but we are not alone in the world. On the contrary, we need a lot of other things to happen at the same time for businesses, for customers, for consumers, to meet a fair and level playing field. There may be a number of single market issues, and here now we have the single market enforcement task force, where Member States and the Commission come together to make sure that the barriers that have been rising here, there, left, centre, that they have been taken down, because this is basically what we need. We need to do this together to make sure that we make the best of the competitive drivers while at the same time transitioning our economy. And as several of you have mentioned, this work sometimes seems slower than how the market is driving us. But it is still, I think, really important to accept that we cannot compromise on the quality of our work. We cannot compromise on due process because we live in a Union based on the rule of law. And this is why vigorous competition law enforcement, the regulation that you’re now looking at: that combination will be of the essence. I want to thank you very much, and looking at the different recommendations of this year’s report, I hope that, if nothing else, then last year you will say that I have lived up to the recommendation that we are encouraged to continue the structured dialogue, the really close working relationship between us and the European Parliament, because that support is crucial, and it is for your voters, for the European citizens, to feel that they deserve affordable goods, innovative products, choice and quality delivered from the marketplace.