Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-02-05-Speech-2-169"
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"en.20020205.9.2-169"2
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". – I realise, not without relief, that I am not the Commissioner responsible either for taxation or for monetary union, but merely the Commissioner for humble competition policy which, nevertheless, has a role to play and tries to play it vigorously – with the support of Parliament, which is apparent once again today.
On competition proper, why not be even more liberal and refrain from applying sector-specific rules? Well, we have looked into this and a detailed analysis has brought us to the following conclusion. If we did not have specific rules for this industry competition-wise, the industry would fall under the application of the block-exemption regulation on vertical restrictions. That would have two main drawbacks. It would allow the industry to use very similar distribution agreements to those permitted at present, on which our evaluation report was pretty negative. Also applying the general regime would not be a satisfactory means of improving competition on the after-sales market. Independent repairers could be foreclosed from the market as a result. This is clearly something which could not be accepted.
Furthermore, all motor vehicles would most likely continue to be distributed through the same type of selective and exclusive distribution systems if no new regulatory regime was introduced.
Last, but not least, the general regime does not offer provisions which are crucial in the car sector to ensure benefits for the consumer. This is the case with the so-called availability clause, which allows, for instance, a British consumer to buy a right-hand-drive car in a left-hand-drive country.
So, although we are in principle against sector-specific rules, as you have seen with the telecom package with my colleague, Mr Liikanen, we have moved some way towards the adoption of general competition rules. But here the particular nature of the situation has led us to firmly believe that a sector-specific rule would be more appropriate.
As for supermarkets, for example, I can only say that, during the lengthy consultation process undertaken by the Commission, no supermarket or association speaking on its behalf directly expressed a desire to sell cars on a regular basis.
On the other hand, it would not be true to suggest that the draft regulation adopted today gives no business opportunities to supermarkets. A supermarket could become a mono- or multi-brand sales dealer if it satisfied the criteria laid down by the manufacturer. Similarly, it may act as an intermediary for consumers.
Finally, on the two issues which do not relate to competition but have a bearing on prices, tax and the euro, I will not go beyond the answer I gave on the issue of the UK, cars and the euro. As for taxation, the honourable Member underlined that this is a national responsibility and it is tempting, but perhaps not entirely consistent, to argue that this is to be jealously guarded as a national prerogative and yet ask the Commissioner to lobby actively for harmonisation. I will, however, pass this message on to my colleague, Mr Bolkestein."@en1
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