Competition: Commission seeks feedback on the short extension of the R&D and specialisation block exemption regulations

The European Commission is consulting on the draft text of two regulations extending the validity of the horizontal block exemption regulations on Research & Development and Specialisation Agreements (together ‘HBERs’). The HBERs are due to expire on 31 December 2022 and the Commission is proposing to prolong them until 30 June 2023. The short extension of the HBERs proposed today is necessary to ensure a proper review process following the public consultation while avoiding legal uncertainty. In particular, additional time is necessary to fully incorporate the feedback received in response to the public consultation on the draft texts.  All parties, in particular businesses carrying out economic activities across the European Economic Area, can submit their views on the proposed extension in any official EU language on the Commission’s Have your say portal and on DG-Competition’s consultations webpage until 14 November 2022. The Commission aims at adopting the two regulations extending the validity of the HBERs before the end of 2022.