Standpunten

FIGIEFA standpunt t.a.v. BER na 2010

De Europese branche-organisatie voor onafhankelijke aftermarket bedrijven FIGIEFA pleit voor een verlenging van specifieke wetgeving voor de automotive sector.

In een persbericht van 29 mei 2008 maakt FIGIEFA bekend dat zij pleit voor een verlenging van de sectorspecifieke mededingingswetgeving als de huidige Verordening 1400/2002 afloopt in 2010.

FIGIEFA staat op het standpunt dat de huidige Verordening 1400/2002 een gunstige uitwerking heeft gehad op de concurrentie in de aftermarket voor wat betreft onderhoud en service.

De Europese belangenbehartigingsorganisatie is het niet eens met de conclusie van de Europese Commissie dat minder regelgeving een gunstig effect zou hebben voor de consumenten.

FIGIEFA schrijft:
"With regard to the publication of the European Commission’s Evaluation Report on the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation (EC) N° 1400/2002 (“MVBER”), FIGIEFA, the International Federation of Automotive Aftermarket Distributors, welcomes that the European Commission presented its preliminary views on the functioning of the BER, which, according to its own statement, do not prejudge a final decision on the outcome of the review.

However, and as revealed earlier, the European Commission reiterated its proposal not to extend the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation after its expiry in May 2010. Instead, the European Commission suggests that the Vertical Restraints Block Exemption Regulation (EC) N° 2790/1999, which presently covers distribution agreements outside the motor vehicle sector, would represent an equivalent, but more flexible regime, combined with the general competition rules of Art. 81 and Art. 82 EC.

FIGIEFA maintains that the MVBER has so far guaranteed freedom of choice for consumers, and furthered the creation of a level playing field for all operators in the automotive sector. The MVBER has helped to protect competition in the market for spare parts and after-sales services and to support the industry’s adjustment to a changing environment. But FIGIEFA disagrees with the Commission’s conclusion that a more effects-based (economic) approach and less regulation would lead to better results for consumers. Rather, more legal
certainty would better ensure the coherent application of Community competition law throughout the EU. FIGIEFA upholds that it would be detrimental for all aftermarket operators and consumers alike to remove rules which provide legal certainty and which have recently
established a frame for effective competition in the automotive sector. "