(fra Kommisjonens rapport 25.4.2025)

Since the very beginning of the European project, competition policy has played a fundamental role in shaping the Single Market. Competition policy allows companies of all sizes to compete and grow on the merits in the EU, while also fostering innovation and growth, as well as contributing to the overall competitiveness and resilience of the EU economy.

EU competition policy along with effective competition enforcement keep prices down, increase product quality, and speed up innovation, generally enhancing the welfare of consumers and businesses. The objective of EU competition policy is to keep markets open and contestable, in particular by removing and sanctioning practices that distort the competitive process, and by allowing only the least distortive State aid.

In 2024, two reports were published by Enrico Letta 1 and Mario Draghi 2 . Mr Letta’s report contains recommendations on how to improve the Single Market, and Mr Draghi’s report includes proposals on how to increase the EU’s competitiveness. Both reports emphasise the Single Market as the EU’s best asset for a competitive, clean, and digital future, and the fact that effectively enforcing competition rules is a fundamental source of productivity growth and competitiveness in the EU. Effective competition is a core feature of well-functioning markets.

Against this background, in 2024, the European Commission (Commission) and its Directorate-General for Competition continued to develop EU competition policy to achieve the objectives of a green, digital, and resilient European economy, as well as to actively enforce competition rules. Effective competition is a core feature of well-functioning markets. Competition policy does not, however, operate in a vacuum. Sector-specific regulations and competition enforcement work together and reinforce each other.

The Report on Competition Policy of 2024 is addressed by the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Committee of the Regions. The Report describes key developments in EU competition policy and enforcement during 2024. A more comprehensive account of policy developments, enforcement actions and important case-law is included in the Staff Working Document (SWD) which accompanies the Report.