EU: EC publishes final e-commerce report

The European Commission’s final report on the e-commerce sector inquiry identifies business practices that may restrict competition. It allows the Commission to target its enforcement of EU antitrust rules in e-commerce markets and has already prompted companies to review their practices.

Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “Certain practices by companies in e-commerce markets may restrict competition by unduly limiting how products are distributed throughout the EU. Our report confirms that. These restrictions could limit consumer choice and prevent lower prices online. At the same time, we find that there is a need to balance the interests of both online and ‘brick-and-mortar’ retailers. All to the benefit of consumers. Our findings help us to target the enforcement of EU competition rules in e-commerce markets”.

One of the main goals of the Commission’s Digital Single Market strategy is to ensure better access for consumers and businesses to goods and services. The e-commerce sector inquiry complements the Commission’s legislative proposals in this regard. The objective of the sector inquiry was to allow the Commission to identify possible competition concerns in European e-commerce markets.

The report published Wednesday presents the Commission’s definitive findings, taking account of comments received on the preliminary report of September 2016 and confirming to a large extent the preliminary report’s conclusions.

Full Content: Europa

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