WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3963/98 by Peter SKINNER Industrial Relations Observatory - Dublin Foundation
21. 12. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 370/13 Being outside the block exemption does not carry with it the presumption that a vertical restraint is illegal. The agreement may not be anti-competitive at all, and it may fall outside Article 85(1) of the EC Treaty. It may fall within Article 85(1) but be exemptable under the criteria for Article 85(3) of the EC Treaty. The Commission will issue guidelines on the application of the competition rules above the threshold to clarify its future policy for these companies. Companies with market power above the threshold may have to adapt certain of their contracts if, upon investigation of their market, this proves necessary to keep the market open and competitive. But this protection of competition will be good for consumers and in the longer run will be good for employment by guaranteeing a viable industry. (1) COM(98) 544 final. (1999/C 370/016) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3956/98 by Concepció Ferrer (PPE) to the Commission (4 January 1999) Subject: Compliance with the code of conduct on arms exports A recent study by the holder of the Unesco-sponsored chair of peace and human rights studies at the Autonomous University of Barcelona on compliance with the EU code of conduct on arms exports states that Spain has sold weapons, to the value of Ptas 23 bn, to twenty-three countries which do not meet the standards of the code. Is the Commission aware of this report? Can it state whether other Member States are similarly failing to implement the code of conduct? Does it intend to take action to make the Member States aware of the need to abide by the undertakings they entered into by signing the code? Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (28 January 1999) The Commission has no knowledge of the report mentioned by the Honourable Member. The Commission has no direct responsibility concerning arms exports licensing by Member States. However, the Member States, having recently adopted the code of conduct on arms exports, are committed to the rigorous implementation of its criteria, principles and procedures. The Commission will continue to contribute in the appropriate fora so as to encourage Member States in this direction. (1999/C 370/017) WRITTEN QUESTION P-3963/98 by Peter Skinner (PSE) to the Commission (21 December 1998) Subject: Industrial Relations Observatory 7 Dublin Foundation Would the Commission kindly supply detailed information about the output of the Observatory including: 1. 2. 3. the Observatory’s 1998 work programme, copies of all reports and papers produced by the Observatory in 1998, details of the Observatory’s 1999 work programme?