XXIVth report on competition policy 1994 : published in conjunction with the 'General Report on the Activities of the European Union - 1994'

The Report on Competition Policy is published annually by the European Commission in response to the request of the European Parliament made by a Resolution of 7 June 1971. This Report, which is published in conjunction with the General Report on the Activities of the European Union, is designed to give a general view of the competition policy followed during the past year. The Annual Competition Report gives the Commission an opportunity to explain the main developments and cases of competition policy to the different Community institutions - the Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee, the Member States - as well as industry at large, which is directly concerned by its application, and the general public, which indirectly is the main beneficiary of its application. By presenting this Report in as non-technical language as possible, transparency is enhanced, a factor fundamental in any democratic society for the successful application of policy. This year's activities have been marked by several major events in the Community's development - the entry into force of the Treaty on European Union, completion of the ratification of the European Economic Area Agreement, and the White Paper on growth, competitiveness and employment. This has given the opportunity in this Report, in addition to describing developments and activities during the year, to explore both how these three major landmarks will influence competition policy and conversely how competition policy is necessary to achieve the objectives these landmarks set out for the Community. This link between Community objectives and competition policy is a two-way process. It is inconceivable that competition policy could be applied without reference to the priorities fixed by the Community. But it is also important to realize how an effective competition policy will help to attain these goals.