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204 / 62 OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 21.2. REGULATION No 17 First Regulation implementing Articles 85 arid 86 of the Treaty THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the Euro pean Economic Community, and in particular Article 87 thereof; Having regard to the proposal from the Commission; Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee; Having regard to the Opinion of the European Par liament; Whereas, in order to establish a system ensuring that competition shall not be distorted in the common market, it is necessary to provide for balanced appli cation of Articles 85 and 86 in a uniform manner in the Member States ; to which they are party, or propose to become party, may lead to action on the part of the Commission pursuant to Article 85 ( 1 ) or Article 86 ;
Whereas, in order to secure uniform application of
Articles 85 and 86 in the common market, rules must be made under which the Commission, acting in
close and constant liaison with the competent authori
ties of the Member States, may take the requisite measures for applying those Articles; Whereas for this purpose the Commission must have the co-operation of the competent authorities of the Member States and be empowered, throughout the common market, to require such information to be supplied and to undertake such investigations as are necessary to bring to light any agreement, decision or concerted practice prohibited by Article 85 ( 1 ) or any abuse of a dominant position prohibited by Article 86 : Whereas, in order to carry out its duty of ensuring that the provisions of the Treaty are applied, the Commission must be empowered to address to undertakings or associations of undertakings recom mendations and decisions for the purpose of bringing to an end infringements of Articles 85 and 86 ; Whereas compliance with Articles 85 and 86 and the fulfilment of obligations imposed on undertakings
and associations of undertakings under this Regula
tion must be enforceable by means of fines and periodic penalty payments ; Whereas undertakings concerned must be accorded the right to be heard by the Commission, third par ties whose interests may be affected by a decision must be given the opportunity of submitting their comments beforehand, and it must be ensured that wide publicity is given to decisions taken; Whereas all decisions taken by the Commission under this Regulation are subject to review by the Court of Justice under the conditions specified in the Treaty; whereas it is moreover desirable to confer upon the Court of Justice, pursuant to Article 172 , unlimited jurisdiction in respect of decisions under Whereas in establishing the rules for applying Article 85 ( 3 ) account must be taken of the need to ensure effective supervision and to simplify administration to the greatest possible extent; Whereas it is accordingly necessary to make it obliga tory, as a general principle, for undertakings which seek application of Article 85 ( 3 ) to notify to the Commission their agreements, decisions and con
certed practices ;
Whereas, on the one hand, such agreements, de cisions and concerted practices are probably very nu merous and cannot therefore all be examined at the same time and, on the other hand, some of them have special features which may make them less prejudicial to the development of the common market; Whereas there is consequently a need to make more flexible arrangements for the time being in respect of certain categories of agreement, decision and con certed practice without prejudging their validity under Article 85 ; Whereas it may be in the interest of undertakings to know whether any agreements, decisions or practices
which the Commission imposes fines or periodic^ Article^4 penalty payments ; Whereas this Regulation may enter into force without prejudice to any other provisions that may hereafter be adopted pursuant to Article 87 ; Notification of .new agreements, decisions and practices
- Agreements, decisions and concerted practices of the kind described in Article 85 - ( 1 ) of the Treaty which come, into existence after the entry into force , of this Regulation and in respect of which the parties seek application of Article 85 ' ( 3 ) must be notified to the Commission. Until they have been notified, no decision in application of Article 85 ( 3 ) may be taken. HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION : Article 1 Basic provision Without prejudice to Articles 6 , 7 and 23 of this Regu lation, agreements, decisions and concerted practices of the kind described in Article 85 ( 1 ) of the Treaty and the abuse of a dominant position in the market, within the meaning of Article 86 of the Treaty, shall be prohibited, no prior decision to that effect being required. Article 2
2. Paragraph 1 shall not apply to agreements, de
cisions or concerted practices where :
. ( 1 ) the only parties thereto are undertakings from one Member State and the agreements, decisions or practices do not relate either to imports or to exports between Member States ; ( 2 ) not more than two undertakings are party there to, and the agreements only : ( a) restrict the " freedom of one party to the con tract in determining the prices or conditions of business upon which the goods which he has obtained from the other party to the contract may be resold ; or ( b ) impose restrictions on the exercise of the rights of the assignee or user of industrial property rights—in particular patents, utility models, designs or trade marks—or of the person entitled under a contract to the as signment, or grant, of the right to use a method of manufacture or knowledge relat ing to the use and to the application of in dustrial processes ; Negative clearance
Upon application by the undertakings or associations
of undertakings concerned, the Commission may cer tify that, on the basis of the facts in its possession, there are no grounds under Article 85 ( 1 ) or Article 86 of the Treaty for action on its part in respect of an agreement, decision or practice. Article 3 Termination of infringements ( 3 ) they have as their sole object :
- Where the Commission, upon application or upon its own initiative, finds that there is infringe ment of Article 85 or Article 86 of the Treaty, it may by decision require the undertakings or associations of undertakings concerned to bring such infringement to an end.
- Those entitled to make application are : ( a) the development or uniform application of standards or types ; or ( b) joint research for improvement of techniques, provided the results are accessible to all par ties thereto and may be used by each of them. These agreements, decisions and practices may be no tified to the Commission. ( a) Member States ; ( b) natural interest (^) .or legal persons who claim a legitimate Article 5
3. Without prejudice to the other provisions of this
Regulation, the Commission may, before taking a de
cision under paragraph 1 , address to the undertak
ings or associations of undertakings concerned rec
ommendations for termination of the infringement. Notification of existing agreements, decisions and practices
1. Agreements, decisions and concerted practices
of the kind described in Article 85! ( 1 ) of the Treaty
• which are in existence at the date of entry into force
of this Regulation and in respect of which the parties
- The Commission shall carry out the procedure set out in paragraph 1 in close and constant liaison with the competent authorities of the Member States ; such authorities shall have the right to express their views upon that procedure.
- An Advisory Committee on Restrictive Practices and Monopolies shall be consulted prior to the tak ing of any decision followjng upon a procedure under paragraph 1 , and of any decision concerning the renewal, amendment or revocation of a decision pur suant to Article 85 ( 3 ) of the Treaty.
- The Advisory Committee shall be composed of
officials competent in the matter of restrictive prac
tices and monopolies. Each Member State shall ap
point an official to represent it who, if prevented
from attending, may be replaced by another official.
- The consultation shall take place at a joint meeting convened by the Commission ; such meeting shall be held not earlier than fourteen days after dis patch of the notice convening it. The notice shall, in respect of each case to be examined, be accompanied by a summary of the case together with an indication of the most important documents, and a preliminary draft decision.
6. The Advisory Committee may deliver an opinion
notwithstanding that some of its members or their
alternates are not present. A report of the outcome
of the consultative proceedings shall be annexed to the draft decision. It shall not be made public. companies or firms, or of associations having no legal personality, the persons authorised to represent them by law or by their constitution shall supply the information requested.
- Where an undertaking or association of under takings does not supply the information requested within the time limit fixed by the Commission, or supplies incomplete information, the Commission shall by decision require the information to be sup plied. The decision shall specify what information is required, fix an appropriate time limit within which it is to be supplied and indicate the penalties provided for in Article 15 ( 1 ) ( b ) and Article 16 ( 1 ) ( c) and the right to have the decision reviewed by the Court of Justice.
- The Commission shall at the same time forward
a copy of its decision to the competent authority of
the Member State in whose territory the seat of the undertaking or association of undertakings is situ ated. Article 12 Inquiry into sectors of the economy
1. If in any sector of the economy the trend of
trade between Member States, price movements, in flexibility of prices or other circumstances suggest that in the economic sector concerned competition is. being restricted or distorted within the common mar ket, the Commission may decide to conduct a general inquiry into that economic sector and in the course thereof may request undertakings in the sector con cerned to supply the information necessary for giving effect to the principles formulated in Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty and for carrying out the duties en trusted to the Commission.
- The Commission may in particular request every undertaking or association of undertakings in the economic sector concerned to communicate to it all agreements, decisions and concerted practices which are exempt from notification by virtue of Article 4 ( 2 ) and Article 5 ( 2 ).
- When making inquiries pursuant to paragraph 2 , the Commission shall also request undertakings or groups of undertakings whose size suggests that they occupy a dominant position within the common mar
ket or a substantial part thereof to supply to the
Commission such particulars of the structure of the
undertakings and of their behaviour as are requisite
to an appraisal of their position in the light of Article 86 of the Treaty.
4. Article 10 ( 3 ) to ( 6 ) and Articles 11 , 13 and 14
shall apply correspondingly. Article. 11 Requests for information
- In carrying out the duties assigned to it by Article 89 and by provisions adopted under Article 87 of the Treaty, the Commission may obtain all necess ary information from the Governments and com petent authorities of the Member States and from undertakings and associations of undertakings.
- When sending a request for information to an undertaking or association of undertakings, the Com mission shall at the same time forward a copy of the request to the competent authority of the Member State in whose territory the seat of the undertaking or association of undertakings is situated.
- In its request the Commission shall state the legal basis and the purpose of the request and also
the penalties provided for in Article 15 ( 1 ) ( b ) for
supplying incorrect information.
- The owners of the undertakings or their rep resentatives and, in the case of legal persons,
Article 13 Investigations by the authorities of the Member States
- At the request of the Commission, the com petent authorities of the Member States shall undertake the investigations which the Commission considers to be necessary under Article 14 ( 1 ), or which it has or
dered by decision pursuant to Article 14 ( 3 ). The of
ficials of the competent authorities of the Member States responsible for conducting these investigations shall exercise their powers upon production of an authorisation in writing issued by the competent authority of the Member State in whose territory the investigation is to be made. Such authorisation shall specify the subject matter and purpose of the investi gation.
2. If so requested by the Commission or by the
competent authority of the Member State in whose territory the investigation is to be made, the officials of the Commission may assist the officials of such authorities in carrying out their duties. the Commission. The decision shall specify the sub ject matter and purpose of the investigation, appoint the date on which it is to begin and indicate the pen alties provided for in Article 15 ( 1 ) ( c) and Article 16 ( 1 ) (d) and the right to have the decision re viewed by the Court of Justice.
- The Commission shall take decisions referred to
in paragraph 3 after consultation with the competent
authority of the Member State in whose territory the
investigation is to be made.
- Officials of the competent authority of the Merhber State in whose territory the investigation is to be made may, at the request of such authority or of the Commission, assist the officials of the Com mission in carrying out their duties.
- Where an undertaking opposes an investigation ordered pursuant to this Article, the Member State concerned shall afford the necessary assistance to the officials authorised by the Commission to enable them to make their investigation. Member States shall, after consultation with the Commission, take the necessary measures to this end before 1 October
Article 15 Fines Article 14 Investigating powers of the Commission
- In carrying out the duties assigned to it by Article 89 and by provisions adopted under Article 87 of the Treaty, the Commission may undertake all necessary investigations into undertakings and associations of undertakings. To this end the officials authorised by the Commission are empowered : ( a) to examine the books and other business records ;
( b) to take copies of or extracts from the books and
business records ; ( c) to ask for oral explanations on the spot; ( d) to enter any premises; land and means of trans port of undertakings.
- The officials of the Commission authorised for the purpose of these investigations shall exercise their powers upon production of an authorisation in writ ing specifying the subject matter and purpose of the investigation and the penalties provided for in Article 15 ( 1 ) ( c) in cases where production of the required books or other business records is incomplete. In good time before the investigation, the Commission shall inform the competent authority of the Member State in whose territory the same is to be made of the investigation and of the identity of the authorised of ficials.
- Undertakings and associations of undertakings shall submit to investigations ordered by decision of
- The Commission may by decision impose on undertakings or associations of undertakings fines of from 100 to 5000 units of account where, intention ally or negligently : ( a) they supply incorrect or misleading information in an application pursuant to Article 2 or in a no tification pursuant to Articles 4 or 5 ; or ( b) they supply incorrect information in response to a request made pursuant to Article 11 ( 3 ) or ( 5 ) or to Article 12 , or do not supply information
within the time limit fixed by a decision taken
under Article 11 ( 5 ); or ( c) they produce the required books or other busi ness records in incomplete form during investi gations under Article 13 or 14 , or refuse to sub mit to an investigation ordered by decision issued in implementation of Article 14 ( 3 ).
- The Commission may by decision impose on undertakings or associations of undertakings fines of from 1000 to 1 000 000 units of account, or a sum in excess thereof but not exceeding 10% of the turn over in the preceding business year of each of the
Article 20 Professional secrecy tide 4 ( 2 ) or Article 5 ( 2 ) compulsorily notifiable under Article 4 or 5.
- Within one year from the date of entry into
force of this Regulation, the Council shall examine,
on a proposal from the Commission, what special provisions might be made for exempting from the provisions of this Regulation agreements, decisions and concerted practices falling within Article 4 ( 2 ) or Article 5 ( 2 ). Article 23
1. Information acquired as a result of the appli
cation of Articles 11 , 12 , 13 and 14 shall be used only for the purpose of the relevant request or investi gation.
- Without prejudice to the provisions of Articles 19 and 21 , the Commission and the competent authorities of the Member States, their officials and other servants shall not disclose information acquired by them as a result of the application of this Regu lation and of the kind covered by the obligation of professional secrecy.
- The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not prevent publication of general information or surveys which do not contain information relating to particu lar undertakings or associations of undertakings. Transitional provisions applicable to decisions of authori ties of the Member States
- Agreements, decisions and concerted practices of the kind described in Article 85 ( 1 ) of the Treaty to which, before the entry into force of this Regu lation, the competent authority of a Member State has declared Article 85 ( 1 ) to be inapplicable pursuant to Article 85 ( 3 ) shall not be subject to compulsory no tification under Article 5. The decision of the com petent authority of the Member State shall be deemed to be a decision within the meaning of Article 6 ; it shall cease to be valid upon expiration of the period fixed by such authority but in any event not more than three years after the entry into force of this Regulation. Article 8 ( 3 ) shall apply.
- Applications for renewal" of decisions of the kind described in paragraph 1 shall be decided upon by the Commission in accordance with Article 8 ( 2 ). Article 21 Publication of decisions
- The Commission shall publish the decisions which it takes pursuant to Articles 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 and 8.
- The publication shall state the names of the parties and the main content of the decision ; it shall have regard to the legitimate interest of undertakings in the protection of their business secrets. (^) Article 24 Implementing provisions Article 22 Special provisions The Commission shall have power to adopt im plementing provisions concerning the form, content and other details of applications pursuant to Articles 2 and 3 and of notifications pursuant to Articles 4 and
5 , and concerning hearings pursuant to Article 19 ( 1 )
- The Commission shall submit to the Council
proposals for making certain categories of agreement,
decision and concerted practice falling within Ar and^ (^2 ). This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 6 February 1962. For the Council The President M. COUVE DE MURVILLE
