Competition

The current European trend of liberalisation aims to increase the role of competition. The goal is to have a positive impact on competitiveness, in the hopes of offering consumers better prices. This step is necessarily accompanied by the creation of surveillance bodies in order to ensure good conditions for liberalisation. The importance and central position of the competition policy in Belgium were sanctioned by the adoption of the new law on the protection of economic competition and by the creation of a new Directorate-General for Competition within the FPS Economy.

Applying all of the FPS Economy’s potential in the refinement and execution of the competition policy

In order to be better targeted and coordinated, the competition policy relies on all of the FPS Economy's units. In this context, expectations are high for the market analyses and surveys related to market surveillance. Moreover, the liberalisation of the energy sector also requires increased internal synergies. These cross-cutting collaborations contribute to a proactive competition policy.

Encouraging constructive and complementary synergies between the competition policy and other forms of market regulations

In certain cases, a market which is competitive may not be enough to ensure that it is also balanced or sustainable. When the competition policy reaches its limits, it is essential for rapid and systemic dialogue to take place along with regulation in order to anticipate any negative repercussion for consumers and the general public. The close and structured collaboration between the competition policy and the regulation policy (which serves to correct dysfunction in the market) has found a true place within the FPS Economy.

The FPS Economy also intends to favour a transparent and constructive collaboration with sector regulators (CBFA, CREG, IBPT, etc.), while respecting the prerogatives of each and with a goal of complementing their work and making it more efficient.

Reinforcing Belgium's contribution to European and international competition policy

The OECD and the EU have made the competition policy one of their priorities. It is therefore fundamental to participate in these international debates and to be able to have a positive influence on negotiations on the subject. The FPS Economy plays a proactive role in all international bodies where it represents the Belgian government.