Commission notice on immunity from fines and reduction of fines in cartel cases

Obvestilo Komisije o imuniteti pred globami in zmanjševanju glob v primerih kartelov

(2002/C 45/03)

(2002/C 45/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(Besedilo velja za EGP)

UVOD

INTRODUCTION

1. To obvestilo se nanaša na tajne kartele med dvema ali več konkurenti, katerih namen je določanje cen, proizvodnih ali prodajnih kvot, delitev trga, vključno s prikrojevanjem razpisnih ponudb, ali omejevanje uvoza ali izvoza. Takšne prakse so med najresnejšimi načini omejevanja konkurence, s katerimi se sooča Komisija, in lahko privedejo do povečanih cen in manjše izbire za potrošnika. Prav tako škodujejo evropski industriji.

1. This notice concerns secret cartels between two or more competitors aimed at fixing prices, production or sales quotas, sharing markets including bid-rigging or restricting imports or exports. Such practices are among the most serious restrictions of competition encountered by the Commission and ultimately result in increased prices and reduced choice for the consumer. They also harm European industry.

2. Z umetnim omejevanjem konkurence, ki bi normalno vladala med njimi, se podjetja izogibajo prav tistim pritiskom, ki jih spodbujajo k inovacijam, tako v smislu razvoja izdelkov kot uvajanja učinkovitejših proizvodnih metod. Takšne prakse vodijo tudi v dražje surovine in sestavne dele za podjetja Skupnosti, ki kupujejo od takšnih proizvajalcev. Dolgoročno vodijo v izgubo konkurenčnosti in zmanjšanje priložnosti za zaposlovanje.

2. By artificially limiting the competition that would normally prevail between them, undertakings avoid exactly those pressures that lead them to innovate, both in terms of product development and the introduction of more efficient production methods. Such practices also lead to more expensive raw materials and components for the Community companies that purchase from such producers. In the long term, they lead to a loss of competitiveness and reduced employment opportunities.

3. Komisija se zaveda, da so nekatera podjetja, ki so vpletena v tovrstne nezakonite sporazume, pripravljena prekiniti svoje sodelovanje in jo obvestiti o obstoju takšnih sporazumov, vendar pa jih od tega odvračajo visoke globe, katerim so lahko izpostavljena. Da bi Komisija pojasnila svoj položaj glede te situacije, je sprejela obvestilo o nenalaganju ali zmanjševanju glob v primeru kartelov [1], v nadaljevanju "obvestilo iz 1996".

3. The Commission is aware that certain undertakings involved in this type of illegal agreements are willing to put an end to their participation and inform it of the existence of such agreements, but are dissuaded from doing so by the high fines to which they are potentially exposed. In order to clarify its position in this type of situation, the Commission adopted a notice on the non-imposition or reduction of fines in cartel cases(1), hereafter "the 1996 notice".

4. Komisija je menila, da je v interesu Skupnosti zagotoviti ugodno obravnavo podjetjem, ki z njo sodelujejo. Interesi potrošnikov in državljanov pri zagotavljanju, da se tajni karteli odkrijejo in kaznujejo, odtehtajo interes po kaznovanju takšnih podjetij, ki Komisiji omogočijo, da takšne prakse odkrije in prepove.

4. The Commission considered that it is in the Community interest to grant favourable treatment to undertakings which cooperate with it. The interests of consumers and citizens in ensuring that secret cartels are detected and punished outweigh the interest in fining those undertakings that enable the Commission to detect and prohibit such practices.

5. V obvestilu iz 1996 je Komisija objavila, da bo preučila, ali je treba obvestilo spremeniti, ko bo imela dovolj izkušenj z njegovo uporabo. Po petih letih izvajanja ima Komisija potrebne izkušnje, da spremeni svojo politiko v tej zadevi. Medtem ko je bila veljavnost načel iz obvestila že potrjena, so izkušnje pokazale, da bi njegovo učinkovitost povečala večja preglednost in gotovost pogojev, na podlagi katerih bo odobreno sleherno zmanjšanje glob. To učinkovitost bi lahko povečala tudi tesnejša usklajenost med ravnjo glob in vrednostjo prispevka podjetja pri odkrivanju kršitve. To obvestilo se nanaša na te zadeve.

5. In the 1996 notice, the Commission announced that it would examine whether it was necessary to modify the notice once it had acquired sufficient experience in applying it. After five years of implementation, the Commission has the experience necessary to modify its policy in this matter. Whilst the validity of the principles governing the notice has been confirmed, experience has shown that its effectiveness would be improved by an increase in the transparency and certainty of the conditions on which any reduction of fines will be granted. A closer alignment between the level of reduction of fines and the value of a company's contribution to establishing the infringement could also increase this effectiveness. This notice addresses these issues.

6. Komisija meni, da ima sodelovanje podjetja pri odkrivanju obstoja kartela pomembno vrednost. Odločilen prispevek k sprožitvi preiskave ali odkritju kršitve lahko opraviči zagotovitev imunitete zadevnemu podjetju pred sleherno globo, pod pogojem, da so izpolnjene nekatere dodatne zahteve.

6. The Commission considers that the collaboration of an undertaking in the detection of the existence of a cartel has an intrinsic value. A decisive contribution to the opening of an investigation or to the finding of an infringement may justify the granting of immunity from any fine to the undertaking in question, on condition that certain additional requirements are fulfilled.

7. Poleg tega lahko sodelovanje enega ali več podjetij opraviči zmanjšanje globe, za katerega se odloči Komisija. Sleherno zmanjšanje globe mora odražati dejanski prispevek podjetja, v smislu kakovosti in časovne usklajenosti, k odkrivanju kršitve s strani Komisije. Zmanjšanja morajo biti omejena na tista podjetja, ki Komisiji zagotovijo dokaze, kateri dodajo znatno vrednost tistim, ki jih Komisija že ima.

7. Moreover, cooperation by one or more undertakings may justify a reduction of a fine by the Commission. Any reduction of a fine must reflect an undertaking's actual contribution, in terms of quality and timing, to the Commission's establishment of the infringement. Reductions are to be limited to those undertakings that provide the Commission with evidence that adds significant value to that already in the Commission's possession.

A. IMUNITETA PRED GLOBAMI

A. IMMUNITY FROM FINES

8. Komisija bo podjetju odobrila imuniteto pred sleherno globo, ki bi mu bila sicer naložena, če:

8. The Commission will grant an undertaking immunity from any fine which would otherwise have been imposed if:

(a) podjetje prvo predloži dokaz, ki po mnenju Komisije lahko omogoči, da Komisija sprejme sklep o izvedbi preiskave v smislu člena 14(3) Uredbe št. 17 [2] v zvezi z domnevnim kartelom, ki vpliva na Skupnost; ali

(a) the undertaking is the first to submit evidence which in the Commission's view may enable it to adopt a decision to carry out an investigation in the sense of Article 14(3) of Regulation No 17(2) in connection with an alleged cartel affecting the Community; or

(b) podjetje prvo predloži dokaz, ki po mnenju Komisije lahko omogoči, da odkrije kršitev člena 81 ES [3] v zvezi z domnevnim kartelom, ki vpliva na Skupnost; ali

(b) the undertaking is the first to submit evidence which in the Commission's view may enable it to find an infringement of Article 81 EC(3) in connection with an alleged cartel affecting the Community.

9. Imuniteta na podlagi točke 8(a) bo odobrena samo če Komisija v času predložitve ni imela zadostnih dokazov za sprejem sklepa o izvedbi preiskave v smislu člena 14(3) Uredbe št. 17 v zvezi z domnevnim kartelom.

9. Immunity pursuant to point 8(a) will only be granted on the condition that the Commission did not have, at the time of the submission, sufficient evidence to adopt a decision to carry out an investigation in the sense of Article 14(3) of Regulation No 17 in connection with the alleged cartel.

10. Imuniteta na podlagi točke 8(b) bo odobrena samo pod kumulativnimi pogoji, da Komisija v času predložitve ni imela zadostnih dokazov za odkritje kršitve člena 81 ES v zvezi z domnevnim kartelom in da nobenemu podjetju ni bila odobrena pogojna imuniteta pred globami po točki 8(a) v zvezi z domnevnim kartelom.

10. Immunity pursuant to point 8(b) will only be granted on the cumulative conditions that the Commission did not have, at the time of the submission, sufficient evidence to find an infringement of Article 81 EC in connection with the alleged cartel and that no undertaking had been granted conditional immunity from fines under point 8(a) in connection with the alleged cartel.

11. Poleg pogojev, določenih v točkah 8(a) in 9 ali v točkah 8(b) in 10, kot je ustrezno, morajo v vsakem primeru za odobritev imunitete pred globo biti izpolnjeni naslednji kumulativni pogoji:

11. In addition to the conditions set out in points 8(a) and 9 or in points 8(b) and 10, as appropriate, the following cumulative conditions must be met in any case to qualify for any immunity from a fine:

(a) podjetje v celoti sodeluje, na trajni podlagi in hitro, med celotnim upravnim postopkom Komisije in ji zagotovi vse dokaze, ki jih pridobi ali so mu na voljo, povezane z domnevno kršitvijo. Zlasti je Komisiji na voljo, da se hitro odzove na sleherno zahtevo, ki bi lahko prispevala k ugotavljanju zadevnih dejstev;

(a) the undertaking cooperates fully, on a continuous basis and expeditiously throughout the Commission's administrative procedure and provides the Commission with all evidence that comes into its possession or is available to it relating to the suspected infringement. In particular, it remains at the Commission's disposal to answer swiftly any request that may contribute to the establishment of the facts concerned;

(b) podjetje preneha sodelovati v domnevnem nezakonitem dejanju, najkasneje takrat, ko predloži dokaze iz točk 8(a) ali 8(b), kot je ustrezno;

(b) the undertaking ends its involvement in the suspected infringement no later than the time at which it submits evidence under points 8(a) or 8(b), as appropriate;

(c) podjetje ni naredilo ničesar, da bi druga podjetja prisililo v sodelovanje v kršitvi.

(c) the undertaking did not take steps to coerce other undertakings to participate in the infringement.

POSTOPEK

PROCEDURE

12. Podjetje, ki želi zaprositi za imuniteto pred globami, mora stopiti v stik z Generalnim direktoratom Komisije za konkurenco. Če se izkaže, da zahteve, določene v točkah 8 do 10, kot je ustrezno, niso izpolnjene, bo podjetje nemudoma obveščeno, da imuniteta pred globami ni na voljo za domnevno kršitev.

12. An undertaking wishing to apply for immunity from fines should contact the Commission's Directorate-General for Competition. Should it become apparent that the requirements set out in points 8 to 10, as appropriate, are not met, the undertaking will immediately be informed that immunity from fines is not available for the suspected infringement.

13. Če je imuniteta pred globami na voljo za domnevno kršitev, podjetje lahko, da bi izpolnilo pogoje 8(a) ali 8(b), kot je ustrezno:

13. If immunity from fines is available for a suspected infringement, the undertaking may, in order to meet conditions 8(a) or 8(b), as appropriate:

(a) Komisiji nemudoma zagotovi vse dokaze, povezane z domnevno kršitvijo, ki jih ima na voljo ob predložitvi; ali

(a) immediately provide the Commission with all the evidence relating to the suspected infringement available to it at the time of the submission; or

(b) prvotno predstavi te dokaze v hipotetičnem smislu, pri čemer mora podjetje predstaviti opisni seznam dokazov, ki jih namerava razkriti na pozneje dogovorjeni datum. Ta seznam naj bi točno zrcalil naravo in vsebino dokazov, ob tem pa varoval hipotetično naravo njihovega razkritja. Za ponazoritev narave in vsebine dokazov se lahko uporabijo prečiščeni izvodi dokumentov, iz katerih so bili odstranjeni občutljivi deli.

(b) initially present this evidence in hypothetical terms, in which case the undertaking must present a descriptive list of the evidence it proposes to disclose at a later agreed date. This list should accurately reflect the nature and content of the evidence, whilst safeguarding the hypothetical nature of its disclosure. Expurgated copies of documents, from which sensitive parts have been removed, may be used to illustrate the nature and content of the evidence.

14. Generalni direktorat za konkurenco bo zagotovil pisno potrdilo o vlogi podjetja za imuniteto pred globami, pri čemer bo potrdil datum, ko je podjetje bodisi predložilo dokaze po 13(a) bodisi Komisiji predstavilo opisni seznam, omenjen v 13(b).

14. The Directorate-General for Competition will provide a written acknowledgement of the undertaking's application for immunity from fines, confirming the date on which the undertaking either submitted evidence under 13(a) or presented to the Commission the descriptive list referred to in 13(b).

15. Ko Komisija prejme dokaze, ki jih podjetje predloži po točki 13(a), in preveri, ali izpolnjuje pogoje, določene v točkah 8(a) ali 8(b), kot je ustrezno, bo podjetju v pisni obliki zagotovilo pogojno imuniteto pred globami.

15. Once the Commission has received the evidence submitted by the undertaking under point 13(a) and has verified that it meets the conditions set out in points 8(a) or 8(b), as appropriate, it will grant the undertaking conditional immunity from fines in writing.

16. Druga možnost je, da bo Komisija preverila, ali narava in vsebina dokazov, opisanih v seznamu, omenjenem v točki 13(b), izpolnjuje pogoje, določene v točkah 8(a) ali 8(b), kot je ustrezno, in o tem obvestila podjetje. Po razkritju dokazov najkasneje na dogovorjeni datum in potem, ko bo preverila, ali ustrezajo opisu iz seznama, bo Komisija podjetju v pisni obliki odobrila pogojno imuniteto pred globami.

16. Alternatively, the Commission will verify that the nature and content of the evidence described in the list referred to in point 13(b) will meet the conditions set out in points 8(a) or 8(b), as appropriate, and inform the undertaking accordingly. Following the disclosure of the evidence no later than on the date agreed and having verified that it corresponds to the description made in the list, the Commission will grant the undertaking conditional immunity from fines in writing.

17. Podjetje, ki ne izpolni pogojev, določenih v točkah 8(a) ali 8(b), kot je ustrezno, lahko umakne razkrite dokaze za namene svoje vloge za imuniteto ali od Komisije zahteva, da jo preuči v skladu z oddelkom B tega obvestila. To Komisiji ne preprečuje, da uporabi svoja običajna pooblastila za preiskavo, da pridobi informacije.

17. An undertaking which fails to meet the conditions set out in points 8(a) or 8(b), as appropriate, may withdraw the evidence disclosed for the purposes of its immunity application or request the Commission to consider it under section B of this notice. This does not prevent the Commission from using its normal powers of investigation in order to obtain the information.

18. Komisija ne bo preučevala drugih vlog za imuniteto pred globami, preden zavzame stališče do obstoječe vloge v zvezi z isto kršitvijo, na katero se sumi.

18. The Commission will not consider other applications for immunity from fines before it has taken a position on an existing application in relation to the same suspected infringement.

19. Če ob koncu upravnega postopka podjetje izpolnjuje pogoje, določene v točki 11, mu bo Komisija v ustrezni odločbi odobrila imuniteto pred globami.

19. If at the end of the administrative procedure, the undertaking has met the conditions set out in point 11, the Commission will grant it immunity from fines in the relevant decision.

B. ZMANJŠANJE GLOBE

B. REDUCTION OF A FINE

20. Podjetja, ki ne izpolnjujejo pogojev iz oddelka A zgoraj, so lahko upravičena do pravice do zmanjšanja sleherne globe, ki bi jim bile sicer naložene.

20. Undertakings that do not meet the conditions under section A above may be eligible to benefit from a reduction of any fine that would otherwise have been imposed.

21. Da bi bilo podjetje do tega upravičeno, mora Komisiji zagotoviti dokaze o domnevni kršitvi, ki predstavljajo znatno dodano vrednost glede na dokaze, ki jih Komisija že ima, in mora prekiniti svoje sodelovanje v kršitvi, na katero se sumi, najkasneje ob času, ko predloži dokaze.

21. In order to qualify, an undertaking must provide the Commission with evidence of the suspected infringement which represents significant added value with respect to the evidence already in the Commission's possession and must terminate its involvement in the suspected infringement no later than the time at which it submits the evidence.

22. Koncept "dodane vrednosti" se nanaša na obseg, v katerem zagotovljeni dokazi okrepijo, po svoji naravi in/ali stopnji podrobnosti, možnost Komisije, da dokaže zadevna dejstva. Pri tej oceni bo Komisija na splošno menila, da imajo pisni dokazi, ki izvirajo iz časovnega obdobja, na katerega se nanašajo dejstva, večjo vrednost kot naknadno ugotovljeni dokazi. Podobno se šteje, da imajo dokazi, ki so neposredno povezani z zadevnimi dejstvi, na splošno večjo vrednost kot tisti, ki so z njimi samo posredno povezani.

22. The concept of "added value" refers to the extent to which the evidence provided strengthens, by its very nature and/or its level of detail, the Commission's ability to prove the facts in question. In this assessment, the Commission will generally consider written evidence originating from the period of time to which the facts pertain to have a greater value than evidence subsequently established. Similarly, evidence directly relevant to the facts in question will generally be considered to have a greater value than that with only indirect relevance.

23. Komisija bo v vsaki dokončni odločbi, ki jo sprejme ob koncu upravnega postopka, odločila:

23. The Commission will determine in any final decision adopted at the end of the administrative procedure:

(a) ali so dokazi, ki jih je zagotovilo podjetje, predstavljali znatno dodano vrednost glede na dokaze, ki jih je Komisija ob istem času že imela;

(a) whether the evidence provided by an undertaking represented significant added value with respect to the evidence in the Commission's possession at that same time;

(b) raven zmanjšanja, do katere bo upravičeno podjetje, glede na globo, ki bi bila sicer naložena, kot sledi. Za:

(b) the level of reduction an undertaking will benefit from, relative to the fine which would otherwise have been imposed, as follows. For the:

- prvo podjetje, ki izpolni pogoje iz točke 21: 30-50 % zmanjšanje,

- first undertaking to meet point 21: a reduction of 30-50 %,

- drugo podjetje, ki izpolni pogoje iz točke 21: 20-30 % zmanjšanje,

- second undertaking to meet point 21: a reduction of 20-30 %,

- nadaljnja podjetja, ki izpolnijo pogoje iz točke 21: do 20 % zmanjšanje.

- subsequent undertakings that meet point 21: a reduction of up to 20 %.

Da bi Komisija določila raven zmanjšanja znotraj vsakega od teh razredov, bo upoštevala čas, ob katerem so bili predloženi dokazi, ki izpolnjujejo pogoj iz točke 21, in stopnjo, do katere le-ti predstavljajo dodano vrednost. Prav tako lahko upošteva obseg in trajnost sodelovanja podjetja po datumu predložitve.

In order to determine the level of reduction within each of these bands, the Commission will take into account the time at which the evidence fulfilling the condition in point 21 was submitted and the extent to which it represents added value. It may also take into account the extent and continuity of any cooperation provided by the undertaking following the date of its submission.

Poleg tega, če podjetje zagotovi dokaze, ki se nanašajo na dejstva, za katera Komisija prej ni vedela, in ki se neposredno nanašajo na težo ali trajanje domnevnega kartela, Komisija teh elementov ne bo upoštevala pri določanju globe, ki naj se naloži podjetju, ki je te dokaze zagotovilo.

In addition, if an undertaking provides evidence relating to facts previously unknown to the Commission which have a direct bearing on the gravity or duration of the suspected cartel, the Commission will not take these elements into account when setting any fine to be imposed on the undertaking which provided this evidence.

POSTOPEK

PROCEDURE

24. Podjetje, ki želi biti upravičeno do zmanjšanja globe, mora Komisiji zagotoviti dokaze o zadevnem kartelu.

24. An undertaking wishing to benefit from a reduction of a fine should provide the Commission with evidence of the cartel in question.

25. Podjetje bo od Generalnega direktorata za konkurenco prejelo potrdilo o prejemu, na katerem bo naveden datum, ko so bili ustrezni dokazi predloženi. Komisija ne bo preučevala drugih predloženih dokazov vlagatelja za zmanjšanje globe, preden zavzame stališče do obstoječe vloge za pogojno imuniteto pred globami v zvezi z isto domnevno kršitvijo.

25. The undertaking will receive an acknowledgement of receipt from the Directorate-General for Competition recording the date on which the relevant evidence was submitted. The Commission will not consider any submissions of evidence by an applicant for a reduction of a fine before it has taken a position on any existing application for a conditional immunity from fines in relation to the same suspected infringement.

26. Če Komisija predhodno sklene, da dokazi, ki jih je predložilo podjetje, predstavljajo dodano vrednost v smislu točke 22, bo podjetje v pisni obliki obvestila o svojem namenu, da bo uporabila zmanjšanje globe znotraj določenega pasu, kot je predvideno v točki 23(b), najkasneje do datuma uradnega obvestila o ugotovitvah o možnih kršitvah.

26. If the Commission comes to the preliminary conclusion that the evidence submitted by the undertaking constitutes added value within the meaning of point 22, it will inform the undertaking in writing, no later than the date on which a statement of objections is notified, of its intention to apply a reduction of a fine within a specified band as provided in point 23(b).

27. Komisija bo pred koncem upravnega postopka v sprejetih odločbah ocenila končni položaj vsakega podjetja, ki je vložilo vlogo za zmanjšanje globe.

27. The Commission will evaluate the final position of each undertaking which filed an application for a reduction of a fine at the end of the administrative procedure in any decision adopted.

SPLOŠNA NAČELA

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

28. Od 14. februarja 2002 to obvestilo nadomesti obvestilo iz 1996 v vseh primerih, ko s Komisijo ni v stik stopilo nobeno podjetje, da bi izkoristilo ugodno obravnavo, določeno v navedenem obvestilu. Komisija bo preučila, ali je treba spremeniti to obvestilo, ko si bo pridobila zadostne izkušnje z njegovo uporabo.

28. From 14 February 2002, this notice replaces the 1996 notice for all cases in which no undertaking has contacted the Commission in order to take advantage of the favourable treatment set out in that notice. The Commission will examine whether it is necessary to modify this notice once it has acquired sufficient experience in applying it.

29. Komisija se zaveda, da bo to obvestilo ustvarilo upravičena pričakovanja, na katera se lahko podjetja zanesejo, ko Komisiji razkrijejo obstoj kartela.

29. The Commission is aware that this notice will create legitimate expectations on which undertakings may rely when disclosing the existence of a cartel to the Commission.

30. Če katera od zahtev, določenih v oddelkih A in B, odvisno od primera, v kateri koli fazi upravnega postopka ni izpolnjena, to lahko pripelje do izgube ugodne obravnave, ki je v njih predvidena.

30. Failure to meet any of the requirements set out in sections A or B, as the case may be, at any stage of the administrative procedure may result in the loss of any favourable treatment set out therein.

31. V skladu s prakso Komisije se dejstvo, da je podjetje sodelovalo s Komisijo med njenim upravnim postopkom, navede v sleherni odločbi, da se obrazloži razlog za imuniteto ali zmanjšanje globe. Dejstvo, da je odobrena imuniteta ali zmanjšanje v zvezi z globami, podjetja ne more zavarovati pred civilnopravnimi posledicami njegovega sodelovanja pri kršitvi člena 81 ES.

31. In line with the Commission's practice, the fact that an undertaking cooperated with the Commission during its administrative procedure will be indicated in any decision, so as to explain the reason for the immunity or reduction of the fine. The fact that immunity or reduction in respect of fines is granted cannot protect an undertaking from the civil law consequences of its participation in an infringement of Article 81 EC.

32. Komisija meni, da bi v normalnih okoliščinah razkritje, ob katerem koli času, dokumentov, prejetih v smislu tega obvestila, ogrozilo varovanje namena inšpekcij in preiskav v smislu člena 4(2) Uredbe (ES) št. 1049/2001 Evropskega parlamenta in Sveta.

32. The Commission considers that normally disclosure, at any time, of documents received in the context of this notice would undermine the protection of the purpose of inspections and investigations within the meaning of Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

33. Vsaka pisna izjava Komisiji v zvezi s tem obvestilom tvori del spisa Komisije. Ne sme se je razkriti ali uporabiti za noben drug namen kot za izvrševanje člena 81 ES.

33. Any written statement made vis-à-vis the Commission in relation to this notice, forms part of the Commission's file. It may not be disclosed or used for any other purpose than the enforcement of Article 81 EC.

[1] UL C 207, 18.7.1996, str. 4.

[2] UL 13, 21.2.1962, str. 204/62. (Ali ustrezni proceduralni predpisi: člen 21(3) Uredbe (EGS) št. 1017/68 Sveta; člen 18(3) Uredbe Sveta (EGS) št. 4056/86 in člen 11(3) Uredbe Sveta (EGS) št. 3975/87).

(1) OJ C 207, 18.7.1996, p. 4.

[3] V tem besedilu sklicevanje na člen 81 ES zajema tudi člen 53 EGP, če ga Komisija uporabi v skladu s pravili, določenimi v členu 56 Sporazuma EGP.

(2) OJ 13, 21.2.1962, p. 204/62. (Or the equivalent procedural regulations: Article 21(3) of Regulation (EEC) No 1017/68 of the Council; Article 18(3) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4056/86 and Article 11(3) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3975/87).

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(3) Reference in this text to Article 81 EC also covers Article 53 EEA when applied by the Commission according to the rules laid down in Article 56 of the EEA Agreement.