EU Competition Rules For Cooperation Between Competitors

The European Commission has adopted revised horizontal guidelines which amongst other changes for the first time provide specific guidance on information exchange between competitors. Two block exemption regulations on research and development as well as on specialisation have also been revised to cover more agreements than before.

On 14 December 2010 the European Commission adopted two revised block exemption regulations, on R&D cooperation and on specialisation, as well revised horizontal guidelines covering a wider scale of cooperation agreements between competitors.

The new block exemptions enter into force in the beginning of the year 2011 with a transitional period of two years. The horizontal guidelines are effective as soon as they have been officially published. The new guidance aims to ensure a uniform application of EU competition rules in all EU Member States.