E.S.F. ensures that during any activity the code of conduct will be respected
Before the meeting
- A written meeting invitation (email) will be send out.
- An agenda for every meeting will be prepared, unless it is a regular event with recurring key topics.
During the meeting
- A decision at the beginning of the meeting will be taken concerning the person who will take the minutes.
- The agenda will be followed.
- The minutes will be prepared for the entire meeting.
- Off-agenda items will not be discussed unless agreed to put them in any other business (only by agreement by all participants of the meeting)
- If off-agenda comments on antitrust-related topics are made (e.g. "talk about the prices”) the chair or any other participants will immediately be responded that the off-agenda item may not be discussed.
- In case of doubt, before the topic will be discussed the antitrust implications will be ruled out.
- If the discussion continues regardless, the objections will be recorded in the minutes. If a person leaves the meeting due to this, the exact time of leaving the meeting will be recorded in the minutes.
- If there is no cause for concern, the off-line item may be added to the agenda of the next meeting.
- For all participants of the meeting: report the incident to the General Secretariat and, if appropriate, to the legal department of your company.
After the meeting
The language of the minutes is English, so that they are clear and to avoid any misunderstanding.
To the participants is asked to review the minutes of the meeting to ensure they are complete and accurate.
The following topics will never be discussed
at any formal or informal ESF activity [ unless they are part of the results of a market survey, or a way to detect the average figures on the market. The analysed results will be available by official demand, or in the concerned market survey].
Product prices
Pricing, price differentials, future pricing strategies
Effects of cost increases on pricing (e.g. agreement to pass on increases in the cost of raw materials, energy or wages)
Individual sales and payment terms, discounts, surcharges, bonuses etc.
Customers/suppliers
Sharing of markets or reference groups
Individual customer relationships
Allocation of customers or suppliers to certain undertakings (e.g. “preferred suppliers”).
Volume restrictions or allocation of certain delivery quotas.
Conclusion of “non-aggression pacts”.
Boycotts or calls for boycott.