Referring to Apple as the "managers of the iTunes Store," The European Commission said today that it's the record companies that are forcing Apple to limit access to their music across borders. This, in turn, leads to higher prices and less choices for the consumer.

As told in this Reuters report, Commission spokesman Jonathan Todd told reporters: "Our current view is that this is an arrangement which is imposed on Apple by the major record companies and we do not see a justification for it."

This is in relation to charges filed last week by the EU against Apple and record companies. The charges stated that consumers can't shop around for the best prices, since they are only allowed to buy iTunes in their own countries.

EU says record firms force iTunes to limit access [Reuters via Yahoo!]