Competition policy: vertical restraints, guidelines

The committee adopted the report by Marianne THYSSEN (EPP/ED, B), broadly supporting the Commission·s new guidelines to implement 1999 amending regulations merging a number of existing block exemption regulations affecting distribution, purchasing and franchise agreements. Although the Commission was not obliged to consult Parliament, the committee nevertheless put forward several proposals on points of detail with a view to clarifying the situation on such questions as agency agreements, to take into account risks born by business agents. It also felt that the Commission should explain how it intended to monitor the anti-competitive effect of exclusivity clauses in exclusive agency agreements.�