The European Commission has issued informal guidance on the compatibility with EU competition rules of a sustainability agreement for the joint purchasing and the setting of technical specifications for electric container-handling equipment used in ports. This would accelerate the shift from diesel to electric equipment in EU ports, contributing to reducing CO2 emissions.
This informal guidance letter is issued at the same time as another one regarding a licensing negotiation group in the automotive sector. These are the first guidance letters the Commission issued under the revised Notice on Informal Guidance of 2022. This Notice allows businesses to seek informal guidance from the Commission on the application of EU competition rules to novel or unresolved questions, helping them making an informed assessment of their agreements or unilateral practices. (....)