NEWSLETTER-2017

90 NEWSLETTER 2017 Block Exemption Communiqué on Vertical Agreements and Concerted Practices in the Motor Vehicle Sector* Att. Mehves Erdem Introduction Block Exemption Communiqué on Vertical Agreements and Concerted Practices in the Motor Vehicle Sector numbered 2017/3 (“Communiqué”) 1 entered into force through publication in the Official Gazette dated February 24, 2017, numbered 29989. The Communiqué abolished the Block Exemption Communiqué on Vertical Agreements and Concerted Practices in the Motor Vehicle Sector numbered 2005/4 (“Abrogated Communiqué”) regulating distribution agreements in the motor vehicle sector, which had been in force since January 1, 2006. For the purpose of clarity with respect to the issues that are ad- dressed through the application of the Communiqué, and lowering the risk for any possible uncertainty that the undertakings might face, the Guidelines on the Explanation of the Block Exemption Communiqué on Vertical Agreements and Concerted Practices in the Motor Vehicle Sector 2 was adopted. The Communiqué was prepared considering the problems faced during the application of the Abrogated Communiqué, and efforts were made to create conformity with the European Union regulation. The system that was regulated under the Abrogated Communiqué is mostly preserved by the changes that are made in terms of the general conditions of the block exemption. * Article of March 2017 1 http://www.rekabet.gov.tr/File/?path=ROOT%2f1%2fDocuments%2fG%C3%B Cncel%2ftebligler%2f20173.pdf. 2 http://www.rekabet.gov.tr/File/?path=ROOT%2F1%2FDocuments%2FKilavuz %2F201733.pdf.