On 2 October 2014, Margrethe Vestager, Member designate of the EC in charge of Competition, was heard by the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament to test her general competences, European commitment and specific expertise related to her portfolio. Margrethe Vestager had the opportunity to make an opening statement, she took part in a question and answer session and made a closing statement.Although the Parliament can only vote on the Commission as a whole, a negative assessment of one of the candidates has in the past already led to the candidacy being withdrawn and replaced. Margrethe Vestager was Danish Minister for Education and Worship, Minister for Education and Minister for Economic Affairs and the Interior.

Brussels

exchange of views

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

KARI, Rina Ronja (GUE/NGL, DK)

hearing

GOULARD, Sylvie (ALDE, FR)

SWINBURNE, Kay (ECR, UK)

BALZ, Burkhard (EPP, DE)

FERREIRA, Elisa (S&D, PT, EC)

hearing of Margrethe VESTAGER (T)

Hearing of Margrethe VESTAGER (Denmark), Commissioner-designate for Competition: MEPs questions & answers

Title: Hearing of Margrethe VESTAGER, Commissioner-designate in charge of Competition

SOUNDBITE (German), Burkhard BALZ (EPP, DE), "Do you think that the internationalisation of the competition should be taken into account in Europe's competition policy and secondly, a considerable concern to parliaments in competition policy is that European companies should be able to stand up to the growing international competition. I'm talking about the strategic industries of course, they need to be able to merge in such a ways that they can strengthen their own position".

SOUNDBITE (English), Margrethe VESTAGER, Commissioner-designate in charge of Competition, "I think it's very important to take some of the considerations by the front door. To say when we negotiate trades, when we work in the WTO, that we put this on the table. As we would say in Danish "svesken p&aring; disken", "stop beating around the bush" (Laughs) Because we have to put this out in the open, because then we can act on it".

SOUNDBITE (English), Elisa FERREIRA (S&amp;D, PT), (on BRRD, Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive, and the capital involvement required) "How will you guarantee that this capital engagements will not compromise competition, will be compatible with state-aid rules and will not be used to keep unviable banks alive?"

SOUNDBITE (English), Margrethe VESTAGER, Commissioner-designate in charge of Competition, "I think it is important to get out to this sort of very very special situation where taxpayers were asked to pay again and again and again, to banks who had taken enormous risks in a very very critical period of time. I hope that they way state aid will be handled it will be in the spirit of the BRRD, making sure that there'll be bailing first, before state aids will be required".

SOUNDBITE (English), Kay SWINBURNE (ECR, UK), "Is it right that I can purchase a computer at a physical shop in one member state and somehow the sale is recorded as occuring in another and the second question is: what can the EC do to prevent such inventive manoeuvres by multinationals to limit their taxes which is ultimately distorting competition within our Union.

SOUNDBITE (English),  Margrethe VESTAGER, Commissioner-designate in charge of Competition, "I think this is very serious issue. Because the majority of companies in Europe they pay their corporate tax and they have to look at large companies who have the ability to arrange for themselves special arrangements which allow them at least by now that substantiated suspicion a much lower amount of tax. But if it amounts to state aid directly or indirectly it is an issue also for the competition portfolio. And therefore I think it is very important to keep investigating what actually goes on what is their revenues and how can it be stopped".

SOUNDBITE (French), Sylvie GOULARD (ALDE, FR), "The fact that we are playing in Europe on a bigger stage means that some citizens see competition law as if we were handicapping ourselves and stopping our companies from playing on a levelled field with others. What do you envisage to do about the international dimension so that competition policy will bring positive effects but will also bring down the negative ones?".

SOUNDBITE (English), Margrethe VESTAGER, Commissioner-designate in charge of Competition, "I fully understand that this can be your preoccupation by citizens. And this is one of the reasons why I find it so important to say that in the medium term and in the long run for sure competition will promote innovation and growth and thereby create jobs. But there may be a short term social cost and this should be handled directly. For instance in setting up training schemes in order to allow people to change from one sector to another and to make sure that the way that things are handled are in accordance, or at least in the open, and that everybody is listened to."

SOUNDBITE (Danish), Rina Ronja KARI (GUE/NGL, DK), "Do you agree that when it comes to public procurement, you have to take care of the competition dimension as well?".

SOUNDBITE (Danish), Margrethe VESTAGER, Commissioner-designate in charge of Competition, "It is obvious that we need to have more focus on the public procurement aspects so that we can cover the competition issues that my be there and see if everybody is having access to those projects. I'm sure we will be discussing further on this once of the EU Court of Justice will have its ruling stated".

SOUNDBITE (English), Margrethe VESTAGER, Commissioner-designate in charge of Competition, (answering to MEP Sotirios ZARIANOPOULOS (NI) on the effects of the crisis in Greece and other Southern countries) "I find that the empathy for the people who suffer should be the driving force in the cooperation between Parliament, Commission and Council to build a strong Europe. And I don't think that is built by accusing Europe for all bad things that may happen, wherever you come from."