| dc.description.abstract | European institutions, governments and all stakeholders in the economy have continued to work hard on bringing Europe out of the economic crisis. This year we have seen the first signs of these common efforts bearing fruit. The Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth provides guidance on the path to follow: building on the EU's key asset, the Single Market, we have to reinforce European competitiveness. Competition policy has a major and clear role in that process. It protects and strengthens the Single Market, it ensures a level playing field for businesses and it supports innovation. As the European Parliament's 2013 study1 on competition policy has concluded: "Competition plays a crucial role in promoting productivity and innovation as drivers of economic growth. This means that competition policy, which intensifies competition, will stimulate growth." In that spirit, the Commission has continued to consistently enforce all instruments of competition policy and to keep the legislative framework for those instruments up to date with the changing economic reality. |
