Modernization of EC Competition Law: Reform of Regulation No. 17

Ladies and Gentlemen, at last year's conference I presented to you a wide variety of ongoing and proposed reforms with which the European Union intends to meet actual and future challenges for its competition policy. Today, one year later, we have made considerable progress in many respects. Most importantly, with our White Paper of 28 April 1999, we have launched the process for a fundamental reform of the rules implementing Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (‘EC Treaty‘), which are currently laid down in Council Regulation No. 17. Anticipating your expectations and my fellow panelists' contributions, I will today concentrate on the reform of Regulation No. 17.