A group of independent companies working together for the fulfil- ment of a specific project. Consortia are frequent, for example, in the construction industry where large projects (buildings, motorways) require close cooperation between engineering, planning and construction companies. The Commission has issued a specific block exemption regulation concerning consortia between shipping compa- nies relating to the joint operation of liner transport services. These are liable to restrict competition within the common market and to affect trade between Member States and would otherwise be prohib- ited by Article 81(1) of the CEC Treaty.
(See: Commission Regulation (EC) No 823/2000 of 19 April 2000 on the appli- cation of Article 81(3) of the Treaty to certain categories of agreements, decisions and practices between liner shipping companies (consortia) (OJ L 100, 20.4.2000, p. 24).)
Source: Glossary of terms used in EU competition policy, Antitrust and control of concentrations, European Commission, 2002