ECOO expresses regret that the conditions attached to the acquisition by the European Commission do not go far enough.
The European Council of Optometry and Optics (ECOO) welcomes the conditions imposed by the European Commission in the EssilorLuxottica case for Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy but believes that they are not far reaching enough and should have covered all countries with similar market environments.
ECOO represents opticians and optometrists throughout Europe, a sector which is largely made up of SMEs with independent shops and practices. The vertical integration of the company through the acquisition of GrandVision will have a direct impact on these smaller players in the field.
Commenting on the Commission’s conditions, Peter Gumpelmayer, Past President and Treasurer of ECOO, said:
“We regret to see that the conditions are limited to only three countries because the market power of these players is also significant in other European countries, including in my own country Austria. It is important that there should be sufficient scope for players of all sizes to operate in this sector, ensuring choice and quality for customers or patients. We hope that the outcome of this case will still allow for a balanced and competitive market place.”
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