Is this the beginning of the end for CBER?
In Brussels, the shipping industry is back on the agenda. The European Commission (EC) is asking for input as it starts its review of its competition regulations for carriers.
This initiative follows a demand from about ten organisations of European shippers, freight forwarders, terminal operators and other operators of the supply chain, requesting the EC to respond to the shrinking level of service from carriers over the last years. The call for the submission of evidence over the next eight weeks begins a review of the EU’s Consortia Block Exemption Regulation (CBER), which grants carriers exemptions from antitrust bindings.
The regulation, which was first enacted in 2009, and extended in 2014 and 2020, is currently due to expire on 25 April 2024. The process launched by the EC is the first step towards the future decision whether the exemption should expire, be modified or extended until 2028. (sh)