The European Competition Network today published its report on national competition authorities’ activities in the food supply chain. Over the past years, and in particular as Europe struggled with recession, national competition authorities have stepped up their activities to enhance competition in the food sector. These include inter alia, sector inquiries, market studies and a number of enforcement cases. Relations between retailers and their suppliers have also been subject to higher scrutiny in a number of Member States.

The use of resources and raw materials is of paramount importance for the competitiveness and the technological leadership of the EU. This is the gist of a European Parliament Resolution on the 'Roadmap to a resource-efficient Europe' adopted today. "We need a change of attitude in a Europe where raw materials are scarce. We need that change quickly. This is not green dreaming, but a sheer necessity", said Karl-Heinz Florenz MEP who is in charge of the dossier for the EPP Group in the European Parliament.

In adopting by large majority the report by Metin Kazak (Movement for Rights and Freedoms, Bulgaria) during the Brussels plenary session, the European Parliament warned the European Commission and the Council of its intention not to relinquish its prerogatives regarding the awarding of the Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) to neighboring countries.

Commenting on the underwhelming outcome of the latest EU crisis summit, Greens/EFA co-president Dany Cohn-Bendit stated:

"Last night's summit paid predictable lip service to the need to maintain the integrity of the Euro and to keep Greece in the Eurozone but talk is cheap. Once again, EU leaders have failed to back up their rhetoric with any substance.

Commenting on the informal European Summit on investment, growth and jobs, Joseph Daul MEP, Chairman of the EPP Group, said: "The European Union has worked hard to ensure financial stability in the Eurozone and to build an exit strategy that will help us grow out of the crisis. I welcome the discussion held yesterday by the Heads of State and Government, in line with previous discussions."