Brussels, 17/12/2002 (Agence Europe) - In the framework of the political agreement on the reform of the rules of competition provided for by Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty (concerted agreements and abuse of a dominant position) of 26 November last, the Council has adopted the new regulation that will take effect on 1 May 2004. S a reminder, the new rules provide for a decentralised system where national competition authorities and the Commission will act in a concerted manner to punish infringements. The abolition of the notification system, which meant that agreements had automatically to be notified to the Commission, sole body competent to authorise them, will, moreover, be replaced by a system whereby agreements not contravening the rules in question will automatically considered lawful, which will enable the Commission to focus its efforts on the more serious abuses (see EUROPE of 27 November, pp.10-11).