Microsoft Fine Is A Key Step In Developing A Strong European Competition Policy

7.13.00pm GMT Wed 24th Mar 2004

Commenting on the Commission's fine of Microsoft - the largest ever levied on a single company - and its insistence on Microsoft marketing Windows without Media Player added in, Chris Huhne MEP, South East MEP and economic spokesman of the European Liberal Democrats, said: "I am delighted that the EU Commission has taken such a tough and fearless line on Microsoft, whose abuse of a dominant market position has made life uncomfortable or even impossible for many smaller competitors."

"Anyone who cares about competitive markets can only cheer the Commission's political courage in tackling the behemoth of the computer software world. Its remedies insist on unbundling Media Player from the Windows operating system so that consumers will have the right to make their own choices. The fine is the biggest ever levied on a single company, and represents 8 per cent of European, middle eastern and African turnover of Microsoft. This should be enough to deter anti-competitive behaviour and may lead to early resolution of other complaints against Microsoft."

"The EU Commission decision underlines once again how important it is to have a European competition authority that cannot be picked off by big multinationals, but can stand and fight for a fair deal for European consumers where smaller national authorities would have cut and run' said Mr Huhne. 'It is impossible to imagine a British competition authority facing down the political pressures to insist on such remedies. The existence of a strong European competition authority is a major part of the benefits of our EU membership."