EU competition law and maritime transport

Seismic shock or gentle grumble?

For almost 40 years parts of the maritime transport sector have for all practical purposes been exempt from EC competition rules. In October 2004 the European Commission released a White Paper on competition rules and maritime transport. This White Paper forms part of a reform process aiming to increase competition in the EC maritime transport sector by repealing provisions permitting anti-competitive practices, including the block exemption for liner conferences. A Regulation may be expected in the course of the year and reform is imminent – but what reform?