The European Commission has published today the final report on the e-commerce sector inquiry, which 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.
The report 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. The insight gained from the sector inquiry will enable the Commission to target EU antitrust enforcement in European e-commerce markets, which will include opening further antitrust investigations. Furthermore, the sector inquiry has prompted companies to review their commercial practices on their own initiative.
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”.
The full press release in all languages and a fact sheet in EN, FR and DE are available online.
