Brussels (APA) – The EU Council for Competition is set to convene next week in Brussels. On Monday, the ministers responsible for the internal market and industry will meet, including Austria’s Economic Affairs Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer from the conservative ÖVP. Hattmannsdorfer is expected to advocate for the elimination of territorial supply restrictions, which contribute to the “Austria surcharge” experienced in the Alpine nation.
In Austria, certain branded products are priced 15 to 20 percent higher than in Germany. Austrian officials attribute these price disparities to the territorial supply restrictions imposed by international brands. The European Commission identifies such restrictions as among the ten biggest barriers to the internal market. A study estimates that these restrictions impose an additional 14 billion euros in costs each year on EU consumers. Consequently, Austria has requested that this issue be addressed during the presidency discussions.
To enhance the efficiency of the internal market, the Commission has introduced its own strategy. The primary focus of Monday’s discussions will be on how to establish a truly digital and data-driven internal market. To boost Europe’s competitiveness, the Commission plans to ease numerous laws and regulations through its “Omnibus packages.” This includes a potential delay in the implementation of the supply chain law and simplified environmental regulations and oversight for farmers. (26.09.2025)
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