According to recital 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007, ‘the introduction of regulated competition between operators leads to more attractive and innovative services at lower cost’.

Studies carried out and the experience of Member States where competition in the public transport sector has been in place for a number of years show that, with appropriate safeguards, the introduction of regulated competition between operators leads to more attractive and innovative services at lower cost and is not likely to obstruct the performance of the specific tasks assigned to public service operators.

The main objectives of the Commission’s White Paper of 12 September 2001‘European transport policy for 2010: time to decide’ are to guarantee safe, efficient and high-quality passenger transport services through regulated competition, guaranteeing also transparency and performance of public passenger transport services, having regard to social, environmental and regional development factors, or to offer specific tariff conditions to certain categories of traveller, such as pensioners, and to eliminate the disparities between transport undertakings from different Member States which may give rise to substantial distortions of ...[+++]competition.

– Boosting competitiveness, including through better coordination between regulators, competition authorities and the Commission.

New actions will be required in sectors such as intellectual property, market regulation, competition rules, financial markets and tax regimes.

The Group could also include observers and invite other persons to attend meetings as appropriate, including regulators, competition authorities, market participants, user or consumer groups.