The EU Competition Rules on Horizontal Agreements

This publication explains how the EU competition rules apply to various forms of horizontal cooperation. It considers in particular how Article 101 is generally applied to horizontal cooperation between businesses.

• Part 1 - provides some general observations
• Part 2 - focuses on agreements relating to research and development (R&D), including an analysis of the European Commission’s R&D block exemption
• Part 3 - addresses agreements relating to the production of goods or provision of services, including agreements covered by the Commission’s specialisation block exemption
• Parts 4 to 7 - consider other forms of horizontal cooperation at different stages in the business development, production and supply chain - notably purchasing agreements concerning raw materials and inputs, commercialisation agreements relating to sales and marketing, standardisation agreements and environmental agreements

Ingrid Lauwers (professional support lawyer)