“Competition brings benefits for everyone”. This was underlined by the president of the Antitrust, Robert Rustichelli, in its annual report to Parliament, explaining that the action of the Antitrust Authority is not enough but a "public policy willing to recognize itself in a monocratic and open vision of the market" is necessary.
Families and consumers need solid shields, especially in the complex moment we are experiencing. Inflation, the war and the serious energy crisis it brings with it: all this is undermining the well-being prospects of Italian society as well. Reason why Rustichelli considers the approval in Parliament of the Annual Competition Law. A law – requested not only by the Authority but by Europe – which would help increase the country's credibility, but which is instead parked in the Productive Affairs Committee of the Chamber, also due to the lack of agreement on the liberalization of taxi transport.
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Rustichelli: "Conclude the energy market liberalization process"
In addition to the Competition Law, also the full liberalization of the electricity market, which would instead bring lower prices, and therefore savings for families, continues to find obstacles in its path. “It is necessary to conclude the process of liberalization of the energy markets within the foreseen terms, avoiding further extensions”, said the president of the Antitrust.
During 2021, the authority concluded 13 investigative proceedings, carried out 14 moral suasion and started another 7 proceedings concerning the incomplete and transparent presentation methods of the economic conditions. Another major critical issue is the application of improper charges and hidden costs.
Environmental sustainability: opportunities for businesses, benefits for consumers
Rustichelli considers the environmental sustainability a challenge, but also an extraordinary competitive opportunity for businesses, for the benefit of consumers and the entire community. For two reasons: firstly, competition, stimulated by consumers' growing awareness of environmental protection and the fight against climate changes, offers an important push towards greater environmental sustainability of economic activities, favoring an "innovation for sustainability" and thus resulting "complementary" to the objectives of environmental protection; secondly, it is essential that consumers' purchasing choices are free and that they are conveyed clear, correct and verifiable advertising messages on the "green" characteristics of goods and services.
In this context, on the antitrust front, the Authority continued to pay particular attention to the supply chains of municipal waste management and, in particular, recovery and recycling start-up services. Furthermore, it conducted an in-depth investigation into the electric mobility infrastructure sector and authorised, without conditions, a concentration operation between the company Enel X and the Volkswagen group.
Rustichelli: "Between 2021 and mid-2022 penalties for over 1,4 billion"
Rustichelli specifies that the Authority rewards companies that have admitted conduct contrary to competition and that at the same time have undertaken to correct it. At the same time, from 1 January 2021 to 30 June 2022, the Authority imposed fines on the protection of competition for over 1,4 billion euros.
Furthermore, from an estimate made according to the methodology suggested by the OECD, the president points out that the AGCM's interventions on competition in the period 2015-2020 generated benefits in favor of businesses and consumers exceeding 5 billion euros.
Consumer protection: "Between 2021 and mid-2022 fines of 100 million"
In the period January 2021-June 2022 in the field of consumer protection, 57 proceedings were concluded with ascertainment of the infringement and 45 with acceptance of the commitments. The total fines imposed amount to 100 million euros. In addition, there were 119 closures following moral suasion interventions.
Consumer protection: "Between 2019 and June 2022 refunds for over 35 million"
In 70% of the cases closed with commitments between January 2021 and June 2022, the latter provided for compensatory measures which - according to largely conservative estimates - benefited over 190 thousand consumers for a total amount refunded in excess of 23 million euros. In the period January 2019-June 2022, the total amount of refunds was equal to over 35 million euros, which benefited more than 600 consumers.
