Vertical Block Exemption Regulation System Update. Remind Later Or Install Now?

The European Commission (Commission) is now evaluating whether Regulation 330/2010 (better known as the Vertical Block Exemption Regulation or VBER) and its accompanying guidelines (Vertical Guidelines) are still fit for purpose, particularly in today's digital age.

Art. 101(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (Treaty) prohibits agreements between undertakings that restrict competition unless they contribute to improving the production or distribution of goods or services or to promoting technical or economic progress, while allowing consumers a fair share of the resulting benefits, in accordance with Art. 101(3) of the Treaty. The prohibition of Art. 101(1) of the Treaty covers amongst others agreements – vertical agreements, i.e. the agreements entered into between two or more undertakings operating at different levels of the production or distribution chain, and relating to the conditions under which the parties may purchase, sell or resell