EBay is appealing against anti-competitive regulations in EU

[img_assist|nid=7056|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=42]eBay submitted its complaint to the European Union's antitrust chief claiming that several distribution agreements applied across the European bloc are illegally posing a barrier to competition. eBay appealed to EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes to investigate into distributors of sports goods in Spain, schoolbags in Germany and pushchairs in Britain as reports eBay Vice President Tod Cohen.

Tod Cohen noted that a number of distribution agreements are prohibiting sellers in the EU from offering goods online which means that they adjust the markets to their own interest in defiance of EU market rules. Many distributors hinder sellers and retailers from selling their goods on eBay or other ecommerce platforms.

The Commission will likely consider the case and take it further in case eBay provides Brussels with detailed information that proves that there were anti-competitive practices stated a spokesman for Kroes.

Some retail distribution agreements in Europe prevent customers from the opportunity to buy and sell online, notably to and from other member states or from outside the 27-country bloc. EBay and other similar sites like Amazon level the playing field, allowing consumers to buy both outside the EU or within the EU where one product may be cheaper online in one country from another says Cohen.

"Europeans should not pay higher prices than people from another country or from outside the EU for the same goods. Those who cannot afford to travel and buy those goods in person are the ones being discriminated against."

Next month EU Consumer Affairs Commissioner Meglena Kuneva is planning to propose rules that will make it easier and safer for the EU's 490 million consumers to shop online in any corner of the bloc. Cohen welcomed this plan.