Italian consumers'
associations presented a complaint to the European Commission
against McDonald's on Tuesday, accusing the fast-food giant of
violating EU competition rules in its franchising system with a
negative knock-on effect for customers.
Codacons, Movimento Difesa del Cittadino and
Cittadinanzattiva claim that the franchising agreement imposed
by the American multinational on the basis of its dominant
market position involves rent that is up to ten times higher
than the market rate and punishing contractual conditions.
These conditions are reflected in the price of food sold at
McDonald's franchises, which is generally higher than that at
outlets run by the fast-food giant directly, the associations
said.
The European Commission said it would now "examine" the
compliant.
McDonald's is already being probed by the EU anti-trust
agency for a favourable tax regime in Luxembourg.
The agency believes the tax ruling enables the US fast-food
giant to evade taxes on profits in Europe and the US.
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