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The proper functioning of healthy markets is a fundamental prerequisite for sustainable development, democratic stability, and social cohesion. However, in Greece and several countries of Southeastern Europe, there is a high concentration of power in key sectors such as food, agricultural inputs (seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, animal feed), energy, and the media. This excessive concentration leads to price distortions, pressure on producers\u2019 incomes, limited consumer choice, and, in many cases, the undermining of democratic institutions.<\/p>\n
The European Union has a strong legal framework. Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU)<\/strong> explicitly prohibits agreements and cartels that restrict competition. Article 102 TFEU<\/strong> prohibits abuse of dominant position. Regulation (EU) 1\/2003<\/strong> grants national competition authorities significant enforcement powers. The EU Merger Regulation (139\/2004)<\/strong> enables the control of mergers that create excessive concentration at the EU level. The framework exists. It is adequate at Union level; however, its effectiveness depends on political will, resource capacity, and the independence of national authorities.<\/p>\n In the food supply chain, the imbalance in bargaining power between producers and retailers is structural. Directive (EU) 2019\/633 on Unfair Trading Practices (UTPs)<\/strong> was introduced precisely to address late payments, unilateral contract changes, and abusive practices against producers and consumers. However, its implementation remains uneven across Member States and has limited deterrent effect in certain markets.<\/p>\n At the same time, the market for agricultural inputs is globally controlled by a small number of multinational companies. This is not only a matter of prices\u2014it is an issue of food sovereignty. Through state aid rules and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the EU has the capacity to support cooperative, public research, and production structures to reduce dependency. The key question is why both the EU and national authorities do not fully pursue this option.<\/p>\n The energy market has supposedly been \u201cliberalised\u201d through the directives of the Third Energy Package and now operates under Regulation (EU) 2019\/943 on the internal electricity market<\/strong>. However, in smaller markets such as Greece and Southeastern Europe, concentration remains high, and price-setting mechanisms are often opaque.<\/p>\n The EU also has REMIT Regulation (1227\/2011)<\/strong> to prevent market manipulation in energy markets. The issue is not the lack of tools, but the capacity to enforce them effectively. The energy transition cannot be built on oligopolistic foundations.<\/p>\n Media ownership concentration is not merely a market issue\u2014it is a matter of democracy. The recent European Media Freedom Act (Regulation (EU) 2024\/1083)<\/strong> seeks to enhance transparency of ownership and protect journalistic independence. Without effective implementation, media markets in Greece and Southeastern Europe will remain arenas of entanglement between economic and political power.<\/p>\n There is a need for institutional and operational strengthening of national competition authorities, with adequate staffing, digital market monitoring tools, and transparency in decision-making. In Southeastern Europe\u2014where markets are smaller and often more \u201cclosed\u201d\u2014stricter supervision of mergers, collusion, and abuse of dominance is required. Cross-border cooperation between competition authorities must be enhanced, particularly in energy and food markets.<\/p>\n The energy crisis highlighted the vulnerability of markets with limited competition. Key measures include:<\/p>\n
\nAgri-food chain: unequal conditions and \u201csilent\u201d cartels<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nEnergy: liberalisation without real competition<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nMedia: economic concentration and democratic deficit<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nWhat needs to change \u2013 policy priorities<\/strong><\/h1>\n
1. Strengthening Independent Competition Authorities<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n2. Competitive and transparent energy markets<\/strong><\/h3>\n