As of September 5, 2019, the Commission is inviting comments on the roadmap for the evaluation of the horizontal block exemption regulations on research and development agreements[1] and specialization agreements[2] (the “Horizontal Block Exemption Regulations”). In the fourth quarter of 2019, the Commission intends to launch a public consultation with a view to determining whether to extend or update the Horizontal Block Exemption Regulations and the Guidelines on horizontal cooperation agreements or let them expire on December 31, 2022.[3] The roadmap is open for comments for four weeks, meaning that stakeholders may provide comments on the roadmap until October 3, 2019.


[1]      Commission Regulation (EU) No. 1217/2010 of 14 December 2010 on the application of Article 101(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to certain categories of research and development agreements, OJ L 335/36 (“Regulation 1217/2010”).

[2]      Commission Regulation (EU) No. 1218/2010 of 14 December 2010 on the application of Article 101(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to certain categories of specialisation agreements, OJ L 335/43 (“Regulation 1218/2010”).

[3]      Regulation 1217/2010, Article 9; Regulation 1218/2010, Article 7.