At the turn of the 20th and 21st century, significant progress and changes took place in the field of vertical restraints of competition in the EU. However, since then we have experienced relative stagnation in regulatory development. The European Commission's view on vertical restraints appears to have remained relatively static during this period. This points to the need for further reforms to address contemporary challenges and ensure an economically efficient EU competition policy. The Master's thesis presents a comprehensive cross-section of the legal regulation of vertical restraints in the competition law of the European Union, from the very beginnings to the current legal framework. In addition to a comprehensive analysis of the individual reforms, the study delves into the factors and goals that have characterised each phase of competition law regulation. Furthermore, it provides a comparative legal analysis of the regulation of vertical restraints in the European Union and the United States of America, while also critically revealing the dimensions of the potential need for adaptation of European Union law. Through this multi-faceted approach, the thesis aims to offer a nuanced understanding of the evolution of the regime of vertical restraints of competition in the European Union.
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