Memorandum of Understanding in the Competition Policy Field between the Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation and the Austrian Federal Competition Authority
The Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation and the Austrian Federal Competition Authority, hereinafter referred to as «the Parties»,
expressing the wish to develop and strengthen cooperation in the field of competition policy,
aiming at the creation of favourable conditions for the development of bilateral relations, based on principles of equality and mutual benefit,
underlining the role of competition in the effective development of market economy,
have agreed as follows:
1. The Parties will develop and strengthen cooperation in the field of competition enforcement and competition policy.
2. The Parties' interaction will be realized in the following basic directions:
- exchange of information on legislation development in the field of competition policy;
- exchange of experience in the field of investigations regarding the violation of competition;
- exchange of experience on the relations between the Parties and National Regulatory Agencies.
3. The main forms of the Parties' interaction in the field of competition policy will be as follows:
- exchange of non-confidential information on legislation development and case processes;
- organizing study visits and experts' trainings;
- participation in conferences, symposia, seminars and other events organized by the Parties;
- experts' meetings or consultations between experts of the Parties via e-mail, which operatively ensure the interface for an exchange of non-confidential information on issues of mutual interest;
- organization of meetings (visits) for discussing the perspectives and directions in which the bilateral cooperation will continue;
- exchange of documents, studies and other publications of the Parties.
4. Materials will be transferred in English either via post (e-mail) or during meetings of the Parties' representatives.
5. The mutual activities' agenda, data, place and other issues will be individually established by the Parties by mutual agreement.
6. The parties agree that all expenses, including travel expenses, transport expenses inside the country of a visit, meals and accommodation, related to experts' visits, participation in different activities and meetings will be covered, if possible, by the sending Party.
7. The disputes regarding the interpretation and implementation of the present Memorandum, if any, will be solved through negotiations.
8. The present Memorandum may be jointly revised, upon prior consultations.
9. The present Memorandum shall not be considered as an international treaty and does not establish any rights or obligations, which are regulated by international law.
10. The present Memorandum will be applied from the date of its signature and will be effective before expiration of six month from the date of receipt by one of the Parties of the written notice of the other Party on its intention to terminate the Memorandum.
Signed in Kazan on September 2nd, 2009 in two copies, each in the Russian and English languages.
For the Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation
Igor Artemiev
For the Austrian Federal Competition Authority
Theodor Thanner
