PRESS RELEASE

STATEMENT BY ANTITRUST AUTHORITY PRESIDENT PITRUZZELLA ON COMPETITION BILL

“The Antitrust Authority expresses its storing appreciation for the annual bill for the market and competition which was approved today by the Government for the first time since it was foreseen, namely 2009”. This was declared by Italian Competition Authority (ICA) President Giovanni Pitruzzella, in a statement issued by the Authority. “Apart from the structural reforms already under way, the measure – adds Pitruzzella – represents a further step ahead on the path to liberalisation, in such a way as to favour greater competition: this, as highlighted in recent days to the OECD in its report, constitutes the essential prerequisite for restoring growth in the country”. Recalling the last Annual Report sent to Parliament and to Government last July, the President of the Antitrust concludes by expressing “the deep satisfaction of the ICA that many of its proposals are accepted: in particular, for areas of great importance for the national economy such as insurance and Tlc that can serve as a driving force for the recovery”.

Rome, 20 February 2015