Answer given by Mr Breton on behalf of the European Commission

29.3.2022

Public measures in support of private initiatives promoting preference for products with ‘made in’ labels might give advantages to the products concerned to the detriment of equivalent products originating in other Member States and lead to the fragmentation of the Single Market.

Whenever needed, the Commission reaches out to the relevant authorities in order to make sure there is no discriminatory decision or encouragement by public bodies.

Although the current data do not suggest that the problem be of such a scale as to merit a specific report, the Commission remains committed to a smooth functioning of the Single Market.

In particular, the Commission has addressed this issue in discussions with Member States within the Single Market Enforcement Task Force by clarifying, among other issues that the promotion of sustainable supply chains needs to be pursued in full compliance with the principles of free movement at cross-border level.

Moreover, where any protectionist measures materialised through agreements or concerted practices between operators or through decisions of associations, the Commission and National Competition Authorities also carried out (and are currently carrying out) antitrust investigations for a possible violation of Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union[1].

• [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/treaty/tfeu_2008/art_101/oj