Kelly calls for fair market competition for ambitious businesses

Fine Gael MEP for Ireland-South and leader of Fine Gael in the European Parliament, Seán Kelly, has called on the European Commission to create an environment of fair competition in the single market and to ensure that all market actors have equal opportunities to succeed.

Speaking in the European Parliament in Brussels today, Mr. Kelly, an active member of both the Industry and Trade Committees used the example of Irish fast-food chain Supermac’s to highlight to his Parliamentary colleagues that a level playing field must be provided to home-grown EU businesses to encourage their growth across borders and success within the Single Market

“There are certainly instances today in which indigenous companies are finding it very difficult to grab a foothold and establish themselves in the Single Market due to the desires of large corporations to use their power to prevent competition.” 

Mr. Kelly, in his work on the Industry and Trade committees, has identified securing the economic recovery and the creation of jobs and growth as his main objectives in office and has focused much of his work in Brussels on helping to put in place the conditions in which businesses can succeed in Europe.   

He noted that we must not exacerbate the difficulties that already exist for businesses who seek to compete on the international market. 

“Supermac’s, a hugely successful chain of Irish fast-food restaurants have shown great ambition and entrepreneurialism in trying to expand beyond Ireland and into other EU Member States. However, this growth is hindered due to the uphill battle it faces in trying to compete with the established multinational market incumbents that seek to keep them out.  

“I ask the Commission to provide clarity on what is being done to aid such businesses in this regard; fast-growing European companies such as Supermac’s are the ones that can bring significant additional job creation across the Union. 

“President Juncker’s top priority is to get Europe growing again and to increase the number of jobs without creating new debt. It must be seen, therefore, as a priority to ensure that obstacles are removed for businesses that can and will create jobs and contribute to the economic recovery across the European Union.”