New decision on block exemption from the ban under Art. 15, para. 1 of the Law on protection of competition of certain categories of agreements, decisions and concerted practices

Following public consultation, by Decision № 24/11.01.2024, the Commission on Protection of Competition adopted a new decision for block exemption of certain categories of agreements, decisions and concerted practices from the prohibition of Art. 15, para. 1 of the Law on protection of competition. The Decision is promulgated in the Official Journal issue 9 of 30.01.2024.

By the new decision, the approach undertaken in Decision No. 55/20.01.2011 is continued meaning that the scope and conditions for exemption are determined by direct reference to the corresponding EU regulations. This aligns the national rules for block exemption with those envisaged in the European regulations for block exemption of certain categories of agreements, decisions and concerted practices from the prohibition of Art. 101 TFEU.

The goal of the new CPC decision is to allow for a block exemption of certain categories agreements, decisions and concerted practices which do not have a cross-border effect and which contribute to improving the production or distribution of goods or services, the promotion of technical or economic progress, while allowing consumers a fair share of the resulting benefit.

The new decision is published on the website of the CPC in the section Legislation framework – secondary law.