The response of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to the intervention of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for taking measures against unfair practices of multinationals, which result in identical or similar products being sold at different prices in EU countries, is absolutely positive.

This is an important development for the Greek market and consumers, as Mr. Mitsotakis, in a letter to Mrs. von der Leyen, highlighted the problem of "different prices" set by multinational groups for identical products to the detriment of consumers, especially in smaller countries.

In her reply, Mrs. von der Leyen acknowledged the problem and stated that she was instructing the Commission services to collect data from all countries in order to take initiatives and strengthen the EU's legal and regulatory framework.

In particular, the European Commission is launching an investigation into the unfair practices of multinational companies denounced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, which result in identical or similar products being sold at different prices within the EU, according to a letter to the Prime Minister from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

In her letter, which comes in response to a letter sent to her by the prime minister in May, Ms. von der Leyen informs Kyriakos Mitsotakis that she is instructing the Commission services to collect data from surveys, studies, and analyses on the issue in close cooperation with the authorities of the member states.

On the basis of the resulting data, Brussels will launch a dialogue with all stakeholders, while corporate practices and regulatory rules that may favour the emergence of geographical supply restrictions, i.e., obstacles to the free flow of goods in certain countries of the European Union, will be examined.

In her letter to the Prime Minister, Ursula von der Leyen, who is considered very likely to be re-elected to serve a second five-year term at the head of the Commission, says that this issue will be on the Commission's political agenda in the next European cycle in order to examine possible measures against Geographical Restrictions of Supply.

The investigative process may not rule out enriching the legal and regulatory "arsenal" currently available to the EU, as Ms. von der Leyen says the issues raised by the Prime Minister may be outside the existing regulatory framework. The findings "will allow us to look at different options in areas such as competition or single market rules" to "address such unfair practices,"  she says.

Ms. von der Leyen even thanked Kyriakos Mitsotakis for his "valuable contribution" and for the solutions he proposed in his letter, expressing confidence that the research process will identify the next steps so that all European citizens "can enjoy the benefits of the single market equally, wherever they live.".