EC Block Exemptions

Under EC competition law, any agreement or practice that would otherwise be prohibited under Article 85(1) can be allowed if it fulfils the terms of a block exemption. This guide examines the regulation granting block exemptions, providing a comparative analysis across the different sectors.

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Strict rules govern competition within the European Community and any agreement or practice that has the object or effect of dividing the Common Market constitutes a serious infringement of competition law. However, an agreement or practice that would otherwise be liable to prohibition under Article 85(1) can avoid prohibition if it fulfils the terms of a block exemption. A guide to this complex area of EC competition law, "EC Block Exemptions" examines the growing body of regulation granting block exemptions. After explaining their development, Rosa Greaves provides a cross-sector examination, offering comparative analysis across the different sectors. With many of the Regulations governing block exemptions due to expire during the 1990s, she also takes a look at the future of this field.