Exemption for groups of small and medium-sized undertakings
Article 3
1. Agreements, decisions and concerted practices as referred to in Article 81(1) of the Treaty shall be exempt from the prohibition in that Article where their purpose is: (a) the constitution and operation of groupings of road or inland waterway transport undertakings with a view to carrying on transport activities; (b) the joint financing or acquisition of transport equipment or supplies, where these operations are directly related to the provision of transport services and are necessary for the joint operations of the aforesaid groupings; always provided that the total carrying capacity of any grouping does not exceed: (i) 10 000 metric tons in the case of road transport; (ii) 500 000 metric tons in the case of transport by inland waterway. The individual capacity of each undertaking belonging to a grouping shall not exceed 1 000 metric tons in the case of road transport or 50 000 metric tons in the case of transport by inland waterway. 2. If the implementation of any agreement, decision or concerted practice covered by paragraph 1 has, in a given case, effects which are incompatible with the requirements of Article 81(3) of the Treaty, undertakings or associations of undertakings may be required to make such effects cease.