Brussels should back case for low fares

THE European Commission is due shortly to publish the results of its investigation into Ryanair’s commercial arrangements at Charleroi airport outside Brussels.

If the commission rules against Ryanair this would be a very sad day for the future of low-cost travel in the EU.

It would be a sad day also for the image of the EU, which is supposed to promote the rights of the 500 million consumers living in an enlarged union.

The commission for years tolerated airline monopolies all over Europe ripping off EU passengers.

The Ryanair case at Charleroi is a wake-up call for the commission. It has to demonstrate whether, as an institution, its officials are living in ivory towers with no understanding of the wishes of the citizens of Europe.

Or the commission can show that it understands the needs of consumers who are demanding low-cost travel at every opportunity.

Public airports should be competing with private airports for more business. More competition means lower prices for consumers.

I say to the EU Commissioner for Competition, Mario Monti, don’t do undue damage to the image of the EU as the guarantor of consumers’ rights by ruling against Ryanair.

Gerard Collins, MEP,

The Hill,

Abbeyfeale,

Co Limerick.