Competition: new Eurobarometer survey shows Europeans have positive views on impact of competition policy

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A new Eurobarometer survey on citizens’ perception about competition policy shows that EU citizens largely share its objectives and values. 78% of respondents say effective competition has had a positive impact on them as consumers (72% in 2014). European citizens assimilate competition to higher quality goods and services (74%), better prices (83%), more innovation (85%), and more choice for consumers (87%). Across the EU, citizens think that problems resulting from a lack of competition are most likely to arise in the telecommunications sector (26%; 18% in 2014), Internet access (26%), the energy sector (23%; 28% in 2014), transport services, and pharmaceutical products (both 20%). Among respondents who have experienced such problems, 70% say the main problem is that prices are too high. 40% of respondents had heard about competition cases in the last twelve months (39% in 2014). The Flash Eurobarometer survey was carried out in the 28 Member States of the European Union in January 2019. In total, 26,572 respondents from different social and demographic groups were interviewed. This is the third survey on citizens’ perceptions about competition policy, the first two were carried out in 2009 and in 2014. The full report, an executive summary and factsheets on each Member State are available here.

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