INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TOURISM, TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY LAW Block Exemption Regulations. These regulations cover groups of similar specific agreements, which usually have a comparable impact on competition. The Commission is currently reviewing the Vertical Block Exemption Regulation, as well as the two Horizontal Block Exemption Regulations, together with the relevant guidelines. The aim of the review is to determine whether these regulations still take proper account of market developments and are still fit for purpose. Moreover, certain agreements are not regarded as infringements if they are of minor importance and have little impact on the market (the de minimis principle), even if they do not fulfil the conditions for exemption under Article 101(3) TFEU (so-called agreements of minor importance). Such agreements are often seen as useful for cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises. However, agreements which have the restriction of competition as their ‘object’ cannot be regarded as being of minor importance. (2) The prohibition of abuse of a dominant position (Article 102 TFEU) 9. ARTICLE 102 TFEU Article 102 TFEU reads: “Any abuse by one or more undertakings of a dominant position within the internal market or in a substantial part of it shall be prohibited as incompatible with the internal market in so far as it may affect trade between Member States. Such abuse may, in particular, consist in: (a) directly or indirectly imposing unfair purchase or selling prices or other unfair trading conditions; (b) limiting production, markets or technical development to the prejudice of consumers; (c) applying dissimilar conditions to equivalent transactions with other trading parties, thereby placing them at a competitive disadvantage; (d) making the conclusion of contracts subject to acceptance by the other parties of supplementary obligations which, by their nature or according to commercial usage, have no connection with the subject of such contracts.” If a company that holds a position of strength (dominance) in a particular market were to abuse that position (for example by charging customers excessively high prices), it would cause harm to consumers and competitors alike. This is why such behaviour is prohibited under EU competition law. One of the most
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