Esc welcomes ec's paper on repeal of carrier immunity

Esc welcomes ec's paper on repeal of carrier immunity


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ESC welcomes EC’s paper on repeal of carrier immunity    The European Shippers’ Council Tuesday welcomed the European Commission’s competition directorate's discussion paper and its


view that the antitrust immunity of liner conferences in Europe appears not to be justified.    “ESC is greatly encouraged by the European Commission’s proposal to repeal Council Regulation


4056 of 1986 that has given shipping lines immunity from normal rules of competition,” the Brussels-based shippers’ organization said. The EC is now expected to come forward with a “white


paper” containing concrete proposals for action “leading to the withdrawal of current block exemption for liner shipping,” the ESC added.    The EC paper, published last week, said EC


services “would propose to repeal the present block exemption for liner shipping conferences.”    “The commission has listened well to the views of the customers who have stressed that they


are willing ‘to take the risk’ of a competitive world,” said Nicolette van der Jagt, secretary general of the ESC. She said this environment is already partly happening with the increasing


use of individual and confidential contracting between shippers and carriers.    Organizations representing ocean carriers, who want to retain the pricing immunity of conferences, have not


publicized their reactions to the EC document. Carriers are expected to argue that the review is not over.    One deciding factor in the reform of the conference antitrust immunity in Europe


will be that European member governments, rather than the EC, have the final say in any reform or repeal of the regulation.