Neelie Kroes on Competition Policy

About this Event
17 Jul 2009

Competition Policy and the Current Economic Crisis

About the speech:

Dr. Kroes addressed a number of topics at the heart of the Commissions response to the economic crisis, including the extent of intervention needed in Europes financial sector, how to return EU banks to self-reliance and sustainability, and the future of competition policy as an effective tool to help regain economic stability.

About the speaker:

Commissioner Kroes' office has frequently taken an active role in Irish competition regulation. In May 2009, Kroes granted early approval to Irelands €100 million Enterprise Stabilisation Fund. The nationalisation of Anglo Irish Bank June 2009, and the recapitalisations of Allied Irish Bank and Bank of Ireland in February 2009 all required clearance from Commissioner Kroes office. In late 2008, the Commission was also responsible for blocking the proposed acquisition of Aer Lingus by Ryanair.

The Irish government must also seek approval from Commissioner Kroes office for legislation proposing the National Asset Management Agency initiative before its implementation.

The Commission Competition has also taken action a firm stance against violations of competition law committed by multi-national corporations. In May 2009, Commissioner Kroes found that Intel had abused its dominant position on the market for computer chips from late 2002 to the end of 2007, and consequently imposed a 1.06 billion euro fine on Intel. In the past five years, Commissioner Kroes fines for Microsofts anti-trust violations have totalled more than 1.7 billion euros.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Neelie
• Kroes
• Competition
• Policy
• iiea
• dublin
• IIEA
• institute
• international
• europeam
• affairs