10 Amendments of Andreas SCHWAB related to 2017/2191(INI)
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that fair tax competition policy is closely interlinked with taxation policy; encourages the Commission to strengthen its effortsis essential for the integrity of the internal market and a level playing field; welcomes the efforts by the Commission to tackle illegal state aid and taxation rulein the form of tax decisions that distort competition in the internal market;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Encourages the Commission to strengthen the supervision of nationalStresses that more effective and more uniform implementation of EU competition policy; is concerned that uneven enforcement of EU competition law by national authorities can result in varying outcomes, thus distorting competition in the internal marketlaw by national competition authorities would make competition much fairer and improve the functioning of the internal market; considers that further common minimum standards in EU competition law are required, not only to dismantle barriers in the internal market but also to create greater legal certainty for undertakings; welcomes in this regard the Commission’s proposal on the ECN+;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Strongly supports the independence of the Commission in its mission of shaping and effectively enforcing the EU competition rules for the benefit of EU consumers and undertakings operating in the EU;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Reiterates the possible option of setting up a travelling unit within the Commission which, independently of Member States’ efforts, would need be able toat an effective toolbox within the Commission for the investigateion of suspected cases of unfair competition and suspected breaches of competition law is essential;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission to ensure regular information and exchanges with Parliament on the preparation and implementation of EU legislation, international agreements and other soft law concerning competition policy; would welcome equally regular exchanges with the national competition authorities, which enact the vast majority of decisions involving the application of EU competition rules;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Highlights the importance of access to justice for consumers and ofStresses that access to justice, which may also include the availability ofor collective redress, in order to ensure fairs essential for the attainment of the objectives of EU competition policy; underlines that the absence of such opportunities weakens competition at the expense of the internal market and consumer rights;
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Welcomes the continuous review and evaluation of EU competition law by the Commission;considers, for example, the consultation carried out by the Commission on the possible improvement of EU merger control to be very important;believes that steps must be taken to ensure, in particular in the digital sphere, that mergers do not restrict competition in the EU internal market;calls again on the Commission to therefore examine carefully whether current assessment procedures take sufficient account of circumstances on digital markets and of the internationalisation of markets;considers in this connection that, for example, the merger assessment criteria should be adapted;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Takes the view that a study on the awareness and understanding among undertakings, particularly SMEs, of EU competition law and state aid rules, could be useful in order to step up the enforcement of EU competition law and could also be helpful for guidance purposes;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Takes the view that interim measures can be an important tool, particularly in the digital economy, to ensure that contraventions in the course of an investigation do not severely and irreparably damage competition; calls on the Commission to examine the available options either to speed up proceedings before the competition authorities for the application of Articles 101 and 102, or to simplify the adoption of interim measures; in this connection, calls on the Commission to carry out a study and submit its conclusions, and where appropriate a legislative proposal, to the European Parliament and the Council;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)
Paragraph 13 c (new)
13c. Calls on the Commission, in connection with a possible reform of the Merger Regulation, to examine carefully whether current assessment procedures take sufficient account of circumstances on digital markets; takes the view that an adjustment of the assessment criteria for mergers in the digital economy might be necessary; further emphasises that the independence of the national competition authorities should be guaranteed not only in the application of Articles 101 and 102 TFEU, but also in the enforcement of the European merger rules; therefore stresses the need for equivalent EU-level rules in this area;