European Commission to 'look carefully' at competition law

(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 4 - The European Commission (EC) is to "look carefully" at a recent competition law adopted by Italy with particular attention to norms on street traders and beach concessions, a EU Commission spokesperson said on Thursday.
    The EC "will continue the bilateral dialogue on these two issues with the Italian authorities", the spokesperson added.
    The EC representative recalled that Brussels "is monitoring the situation of the street traders' sector in Italy and has already been in contact with the national authorities on this issue".
    On Tuesday President Sergio Mattarella promulgated the law on competition but accompanied it with demurrals asking the government to act to bring norms on street traders, whose contracts are almost automatically renewed every 12 years, into line with EU rules advocating greater competition for licenses.
    The head of State said that "further initiatives by the Government and Parliament are indispensable in the near future".
    Mattarella likened his action to what he had done with a law on beach concessions last year, when the government amended the measure after his criticism of the initial decree.
    The competition law is aimed at boosting competition in the Italian economy through a variety of measures.
    Photo: Street traders protest in Turin on September 4, 2023 (ANSA).