Parliamentary question - O-000119/2018Parliamentary question
O-000119/2018

Fair market for industry

18.10.2018

Question for oral answer O-000119/2018
to the Commission
Rule 128
Edouard Martin, on behalf of the S&D Group

European industries are impacted by a range of internal and external factors, both in terms of regulation and competition.

In order to ensure a fair internal market for industry and consumers, the Union has strict rules which aim to prevent businesses from abusing their market dominance, which could negatively affect trade and, by extension, EU consumers.

Externally, global overcapacity and competition from extra-European producers, especially those selling at below production cost, are placing enormous strains on European industries, despite vigorous antidumping measures in certain sectors. Fair international competition is one of the drivers allowing businesses to stay competitive.

In order for the EU to develop its position in the global market, for European businesses to stay competitive and to achieve the shared goal of putting European industry at 20% of EU GDP, further incentives are needed for companies to innovate and to support and strengthen EU expertise.

In response to this new challenge and in order to keep a strong industrial base in Europe, we would welcome concrete answers from the Commission to the following questions:

1. How does the Commission assess the current impact of unfair international competition on the European internal market, considering the global competition reported by the industrial sector?

2. How does the Commission define relevant markets for the assessment of mergers and acquisitions? Which factors are taken into account?

3. How often do Member States notify the Commission about their intention to provide industry with State aid in order to preserve employment and industrial know-how, independently or as an adjuvant to merger remedies?

4. Bearing in mind its case-by-case approach, how can the Commission ensure that its decisions manage a proper balance between the conservation of workplaces and industrial know-how and the application of European competition rules? Which effective tools does the Commission have to protect EU industry against the aggressive expansionary practices of rivals?

Last updated: 22 October 2018
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