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ARTICLE · 01 FEBRUARY 2010

Client Alert on the latest developments in the EC Vertical Block Exemption review

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Commissioner designate for Competition, Joaquín Almunia, stated during his recent hearing before the European Parliament, that he intends to adopt a reviewed Vertical Block Exemption Regulation ("vBER") before the end of May 2010.

European UnionAntitrust/Competition Law
Kiran Desai
Kiran Desai
Andrés Font Galarza
Andrés Font Galarza
Constantin Gissler
Constantin Gissler
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Originally published 25 January 2010

Keywords: Antitrust, EC, Vertical Block Exemption Regulation, vBER, distribution agreements

Commissioner designate for Competition, Joaquín Almunia, stated during his recent hearing before the European Parliament, that he intends to adopt a reviewed Vertical Block Exemption Regulation ("vBER") before the end of May 2010. The vBER provides the competition law framework for distribution agreements. The current vBER will expire on 31 May 2010. The European Commission will further issue amended Guidelines that will contain important interpretive points on the provisions of the vBER.

A first Commission draft was published in July 2009 and was put to public consultation, attracting more than 150 contributions from stakeholders ranging from businesses to national authorities. The most important amendments to the current vBER address the issues of buyer power and online sales, in particular within exclusive and selective distribution

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