MEMORANDUM ON UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE FEDERAL ANTIMONOPOLY SERVICE (RUSSIAN FEDERATION) AND THE SWEDISH COMPETITION AUTHORITY FOR THE YEARS 2009-2010

The Federal Antimonopoly Service (Russian Federation) and the Swedish Competition Authority hereinafter referred as Parties,



expressing a will to promote co-operation in the field of competition policy,

proceeding from the principles of equality and mutual benefit,

have agreed as follows:



1. The Parties confirmed the positive results achieved by implementation of the previous Memorandums on Understanding between the Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation and the Swedish Competition Authority of 2005-2006 and 2007-2008.



2. The Parties have expressed an intention to develop and strengthen further cooperation in the sphere of competition policy, regulation of natural monopolies activities control and control over public procurement.



3. The Parties have defined the following priority directions of co-operation:



- anti-cartel activity;

- competition advocacy;

- natural monopolies regulation;

- control over public procurement.



4. The main forms of the Parties interaction in the field of competition policy are the following:



- exchange of legislative and other legal documents and information;

- rendering of methodological assistance, exchange of expert surveys and consultations provided;

- exchange of experience in the field of conducting investigation, concerning the infringement of competition legislation;

- organization of annual high-level meetings of the heads and experts of the Parties in Moscow and Stockholm;

- providing each other with training for the specialists of the Parties with the purpose to exchange of experience not less than once a year in the Russian Federation and not less than once a year in Sweden;

- organization of bilateral and multilateral symposiums, conferences and seminars.



Transfer of textual information shall be provided in English either via international mail or at the meetings of the Parties' representatives.



5. All the expenses related to transportation, meals, accommodation with regard of participation of experts in different events and meetings shall be covered by the sending Party. Hosting Party bears all the expenses connected with organization of the visit and translation.



6. Disputes relating to interpretation and application of the present Memorandum shall be settled by negotiations between the Parties.



7. In case of need the Parties shall hold additional consultations on the issues of implementation of the present Memorandum.



8. The present Memorandum comes into force since the date of its signature and will be effective before expiration of 6 months from the date of getting by either Party of a written notification from the other Party on its intention to terminate the Memorandum.



The Memorandum is signed in Stockholm on 15 of December 2008 in two copies, both in the Russian and English languages. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the English text shall prevail.







FOR THE FEDERAL ANTIMONOPOLY SERVICE OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Tsarikovskiy Andrey

Deputy Head of the Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation





FOR THE SWEDISH COMPETITION AUTHORITY

Jan-Erik Ljusberg

Director General of the Swedish Competition Authority