  This paper considers mathematical programs, whose constraints are expressed
by a parameterized vector equilibrium problem. The latter is a well recognized
framework, which is able to cover multicriteria optimization, vector
variational inequalities and complementarity problems. As the solutions to
vector equilibrium problems are here intended in a strong sense, the consequent
MPEC problems result in a class still little explored by the existing
literature. Some necessary optimality conditions for such programs are
established following a penalization approach. To derive and express these
conditions, concepts and tools of nonsmooth analysis are employed. In treating
equilibrium constraints, by techniques of variational analysis some error
bounds are obtained, which may be of independent interest.
