The EU competition rules on vertical agreements

This publication explains how the European competition rules are applied to "vertical agreements", ie: essential agreements for the sale or purchase of goods or services between parties operating (for the purpose of the particular agreement) at different levels of the supply chain.

It considers the operation of the Commission’s vertical agreements block exemption regulation and the Commission’s accompanying Vertical Guidelines which set out principles for the assessment of vertical agreements under Article 101 TFEU. It also considers the stricter rules applicable to the motor vehicle sector in the Commission’s motor vehicle block exemption regulations.

The EU competition rules on vertical agreements