For further background, there were two surveys of top economists, one for European economists, one for US economists, where the economists were asked if the EU used its antitrust powers to protect EU-based firms from international competition, rather than to promote greater competition in European markets.
At least in the academic economist community, there is disagreement on the EU's use of antitrust powers (although it leans toward the EU promoting competition more than being protectionist).
I generally interpret this data to mean that viewing the application of EU antitrust as protectionist is a defensible, although uncommon, opinion.
They can be found at the following links: http://www.igmchicago.org/surveys/antitrust-and-internationa...
http://www.igmchicago.org/surveys/antitrust-and-internationa...
At least in the academic economist community, there is disagreement on the EU's use of antitrust powers (although it leans toward the EU promoting competition more than being protectionist).
I generally interpret this data to mean that viewing the application of EU antitrust as protectionist is a defensible, although uncommon, opinion.