EXEMPTIONS FROM EUROPEAN POLICY COMPETITION RULES FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT-INNOVATION

Abstract

Handling the legal basis of European Union policy of research, development, innovation must be seen in the context of the European Union's strong awareness of the gap with the U.S. and Japan. Principled basis to ensure compliance with this policy is “unity in diversity” of the European Union. It is well known that the most substantial provisions on competition can be found in Title VI of the Treaty of Maastricht. The provisions outlined above emphasizes the link between competition policy and common EU policy in the joint research, development, innovation, and the importance of the latter in the context of the exceptions specifically designed for this. Cooperation and agreements on research, development, innovation is the exception to the prohibitions imposed by common EU competition policy.