magistrsko delo
Tim Mijailović (Author), Aleš Ferčič (Mentor)

Abstract

Avtor se v magistrskem delu ukvarja z vertikalnimi sporazumi, ki se pojavljajo na različnih stopnjah dobave električne energije in zemeljskega plin. Vertikalni sporazumi so v energetskem sektorju pogosto uporabljen pogodbeni model. Že ime samo razkrije, da se tovrstne pogodbe aplicirajo zgolj na vertikalne tipe razmerij. Komisija in tudi evropski zakonodajalec že od nekdaj priznavate drugačne učinke sporazumov, glede na to ali so sklenjeni med konkurenti (horizontalno razmerje) ali pa med podjetji, ki delujeta vsaka na različni stopnji dobavne/distribucijske verige. Povedano drugače, glavna karakteristika vertikalnih razmerij je, da predstavlja produkt enega podjetja »input« drugega. To pomeni, da so dejavnosti pogodbenic sporazuma medsebojno dopolnjujoče, oz. komplementarne. V teoriji je na splošno priznan manjši negativni učinek, ki ga lahko ustvarijo vertikalni pogodbeni odnosi. Neposredno to priznava tudi Komisija, ko je s sprejetjem Uredbe 330/2010 vzpostavila t.i. varni pristan, ki varuje vertikalne sporazume, ki vsebujejo določene omejitve konkurence pred prepovedjo iz člena 101 (1) PDEU, vse dokler so kumulativno izpolnjeni vsi pogoji iz uredbe. Dodana vrednost te uredbe je ravno v določitvi uporabe člena 101(3) PDEU za nekatere skupine vertikalnih sporazumov, ki sicer spadajo pod člen 101(1) PDEU. S tem je Komisija a priori opredelila skupino vertikalnih sporazumov, za katere je mogoče z zadostno gotovostjo zatrjevati, da izpolnjujejo pogoje iz člena 101(3) PDEU. Slednji odstavek je še vseeno zadnja možnost, da pogodbenici vertikalnega sporazuma dokažeta, da sporazum prinaša učinkovitosti za konkurenco do takšne mere, da pretehtajo nad protikonkurenčnimi učinki. Iz tega sledi, da je glavna konkurenčnopravna določba, ki ureja vertikalne sporazume ravno člen 101 PDEU. Vendar je ta določba zelo abstraktna, saj pokriva vse vrste ravnanj med dvema subjektoma, med drugim tudi vertikalne sporazume. Komisija je za voljo jasnejšega pregleda, predvsem pa v podporo podjetjem, ki se znajdejo v vertikalnem pogodbenem razmerju, sprejela poleg Uredbe 330/2010 tudi Smernice o vertikalnih sporazumih. S temi Smernicami je determinirala splošna načela za ocenjevanje vertikalnih sporazumov. Njena uporabnost je vsesplošna. Ne glede na to, da gre za t.i. mehko pravo (ang. soft law), vseeno podaja oprijemljive podatke, tako glede same uporabe in razlage člena 101 PDEU, kakor tudi spremljajočega sekundarnega prava EU in nasploh pristop k ocenjevanju vertikalnih sporazumov. Pogoj za uporabo člena 101 PDEU je, da vertikalni sporazumi lahko vplivajo na trgovino med državami članicami, hkrati pa v zadostni meri preprečujejo, omejujejo ali izkrivljajo konkurenco. Primarni cilj člena 101 je zagotoviti, da pogodbenici ne uporabljata sporazuma na način, ki bi škodoval potrošnikom. Poleg imperativa maksimiziranja potrošnikov koristi, pa je v energetskem sektorju ravno tako pomembna vzpostavitev integriranega notranjega energetskega trga. Zgolj enoten, povezan energetski trg omogoča krepitev konkurence na ravni EU. V zadnjih dveh desetletjih je prišlo do drastične spremembe v tržni strukturi sektorja energetike. Proces, imenovan liberalizacija, je poleg odprave monopolnih struktur uvedel tudi spremembe na področju pogodbenih relacij v vertikalnih razmerjih. Nezdružljivi s členom 101 (1) PDEU so tako vsi sporazumi, ki ponovno ustvarjajo ovire konkurenci in prispevajo k delitvi enotnega trga v meje držav članic. Evropska Komisija je že v začetku procesa liberalizacije zarisala metodologijo ocenjevanja vertikalnih sporazumov. Prvotno dojemanje in ocenjevanje vertikalnih omejitev je bilo deležno glasnih kritik, ki so letele na preveč formalističen pristop k uporabi člena 101 (1) PDEU, ki se je kazal kot zadržanost do sprejetja pozitivnih učinkov, ki jih lahko prinesejo nekatere vrste vertikalnih omejitev. Posledično je mnogo vertikalnih sporazumov nerazumljivo in po nepotrebnem zapadlo pod prepoved iz člena 101 (1)

Keywords

vertikalni sporazumi;energetski sektor;člen 101 PDEU;liberalizacija;konkurenčno pravo;magistrska dela;

Data

Language: Slovenian
Year of publishing:
Typology: 2.09 - Master's Thesis
Organization: UM PF - Faculty of Law
Publisher: T. Mijailović]
UDC: 338.516.225(043.3)
COBISS: 5653547 Link will open in a new window
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Other data

Secondary language: English
Secondary title: Vertical agreements in energy sector
Secondary abstract: In the master's thesis, the author deals with vertical agreements that occur at various stages of supply chain, regarding electricity and natural gas. Vertical agreements are commonly used contractual model in the energy sector. The name itself reveals that such contracts are applied only to vertical types of contractual relationships. The European Commission and also the European legislator have long since acknowledged the different effects of the agreements, depending whether they are concluded between competitors (horizontal relationships) or between companies that operate in different stages of the supply/distribution chain. In other words, the main characteristic of vertical ralationships is, that the product of one enterprise represents an input of another. This means that the activities of the parties to the agreement are mutually complementary. In theory, a lesser negative effect is generally perceived by vertical contractual relationships. This is also recognized directly by the Commission when it established the so-called a safe harbor, protecting vertical agreements that are containing a specific restrictions to competition, before the prohibition referred to in Article 101 (1) TFEU, as long as all the conditions laid down in the regulation are fulfilled cumulatively. Throughout the master's thesis, the emphasis is marely on the application of the regulation. The added value of this regulation is in determining the application of Article 101 (3) TFEU to certain categories of vertical agreements and the corresponding concerted practices which would normally fall under Article 101 (1) TFEU. By doing so, the Commission has a priori defined a group of vertical agreements for which it is possible to state with sufficient certainty that they fulfill the conditions laid down in Article 101 (3) TFEU. The latter paragraph is, nevertheless, the last possibility for the parties to the vertical agreement to prove, that the agreement brings efficiency to competition to the extent, that they deminish the anti-competitive effects. It follows that the main competition law provision governing vertical agreements is Article 101 TFEU. However, this provision is very abstract, since it covers all types of conduct between two subjects, including vertical agreements. The Commission has, for the purpose to present a clearer review and, above all, to support companies involved in a vertical contractual relationship, adopted beside Regulation 330/2010 also Guidelines on Vertical Agreements. These guidelines determined the general principles for the assessment of vertical agreements. Its usability is universal. Although it has a instrument of so-called soft law, gives tangible data both in terms of the use and interpretation of Article 101 TFEU, as well as accompanying EU secondary law and in general the approach to the assessment of vertical agreements. The condition for the application of Article 101 TFEU is that vertical agreements can affect trade between Member States while at the same time effectively preventing, restricting or distorting competition. The primary objective of Article 101 is to ensure that the parties do not apply the agreement in a way that would harm consumers. In addition to the imperative of maximizing consumer benefits, the creation of an integrated internal energy market is equally important in the energy sector. A unified, integrated energy market allows for increased competition in the European Union. Over the past two decades there has been a drastic change in the market structure of the energy sector. Process called liberalization, has in addition to the abolition of monopoly structures also introduced changes in contractual relations in vertical relations. Therefore, incompatible with Article 101 (1) TFEU are all agreements that provide barriers to competition and turining the single market within the borders of the Member States. At the beginning of the liberalization process, the European Commission
Secondary keywords: vertical agreements;energy sector;Article 101 PDEU;liberalisation;competition law;
URN: URN:SI:UM:
Type (COBISS): Master's thesis/paper
Thesis comment: Univ. v Mariboru, Pravna fak.
Pages: 80 str.
ID: 10961603