Events

Bilateral negotiations between the FAS Russia’s delegation and the leadership of foreign competition authorities in Hague

At the X Conference of the International Competition Network (ICN) on 18-20th May 2011 in Hague, the delegation of the Antimonopoly Service led by Stats-Secretary, Deputy Head of FAS Andrey Tsarikovskiy held several bilateral meetings with the leadership of competition authorities of Spain, Italy, India, France and the Directorate General on Competition of the European Commission.

At the meeting with the Competition Commissioner of Italian Competition Authority, Mr. Salvatore Rebecchini, Andrey Tsarikovskiy discussed further development of cooperation between Russia and Italy in the field of competition policy within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal Antimonopoly Service and the Italian Competition Authority, particularly, prospective cooperation areas (pharmaceutical sector, food products safety), as well as possible methods of their implementation (organizing consultations, exchanging information on enforcement, joint events).

In course of negotiations with Mr. Bruno Lassere, the President of the French Competition Authority, the parties discussed the main areas of cooperation related to exchanging non-confidential information and guideline materials, as well as cooperation in investigation of particular cross-border antimonopoly violations. Messrs Tsarikovsky and Lassere talked over development of joint market research projects.

The parties also discussed conclusion of a bilateral document on cooperation between France and Russia. The French side handed over to the FAS Russia’s delegation a draft Memorandum on Understanding between FAS Russia and French Competition Authority for further approval.

Russian experts discussed the prospects of cooperation for the near future with the Spanish delegation. The parties agreed to exchange information on the areas of interest to both parties in course of joint events. Expanding Russian – Spanish cooperation in the field of competition policy and enforcement in 2011, which is “the year of Spain in Russia”, will undoubtedly make significant contribution to strengthening of bilateral trade and economic relations between both countries.

At the meeting with Mr. Dhanendra Kumar, the Chairperson of the Competition Commission of India, Andrey Tsarikovskiy emphasized progressive advancement of cooperation between both organizations and discussed some pressing issues of competition policy and the prospects of cooperation, both within the framework of bilateral interaction and under the BRICS format.

In course of negotiations with the Director of the Department for International Cooperation, of Directorate General for Competition, of the European Commission, Mr. Miek Van Der Wee, the Russian delegation discussed further development of cooperation between FAS Russia and Directorate General for Competition, the European Commission, under the framework of the Memorandum on Understanding signed in March 2011. The parties determined the main areas of cooperation, in particular, identified sectors of the economy that have priority for both agencies in terms of exchanging information and enforcement practice.

At the conference, FAS had several working meetings with representatives of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and competition authorities of Brazil, the UK, Germany, Mauritius, Mexico, the USA and South Africa. As result of these meetings, the parties outlined prospective developments of bilateral cooperation in the field of competition policy.

10th Annual Conference of the International Competition Network in Hague (the Netherlands)

The 10th Annual Conference of the International Competition Network (ICN) took place on 18-20th May 2011. Delegates were welcomed by the Acting Head of the Netherlands Completion Authority, Mr. Henk Don, and Vice-President of the European Commission, the European Commissioner for Competition, Mr. Joaquín Almunia.

FAS Russia’s delegation, led by Stats-Secretary, Deputy Head of FAS Andrey Tsarikovskiy, took active part in the Conference.

The highlights of the first day the ICN Annual Conference included Plenary and Break-out Sessions of the ICN Advocacy Working Group, chaired by FAS Russia. The main topic for the Group discussions was the principles of competition advocacy within the system of public administration.

The heads of the strongest competition authorities in the world - Bruno Lassere, the President of the French Competition Authority; Eduardo Perez Motta, the Chairman of Mexican Federal Competition Commission; Kazuhiko Takeshima, the Chairman of Japan Fair Trade Commission; and John Fingleton, Chief Executive of the UK Office of Fair Trading and the Chairman of the ICN Steering Committee – took part in the Plenary Session of the Working Group.

“Under the ICN rules the same representative of a particular competition authority cannot take part in plenary sessions twice, so we highly appreciate the fact that the heads of the above competition authorities have chosen the Plenary Session of the Working Group chaired by FAS Russia”, said Andrey Tsarikovskiy.

At one of the Break-out Sessions a report was made by Deputy Head of the FAS Russia’s Department for International Economic Cooperation, Mr. Andrey Yunak, who talked about the main aspects of improving the principles of competition in the system of public procurement in Russia.

The Merger Working Group had sessions on the second day of the Conference. One of the Break-out Sessions was moderated by Assistant to the Head of FAS Russia, Mr. Vladimir Kachalin. He informed participants about FAS Russia’s efforts to control economic concentration, particularly, about changes in Russian competition law in this field as well as about international cooperation with foreign competition authorities in course of merger examination.

Conference participants also discussed the Project for consultative assistance to be provided by more experienced competition authorities. FAS Russia has an extensive experience of consulting other competition authorities within the ICN framework. For instance, FAS experts repeatedly held consultations with the officers of competition authorities of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia aimed at improving the antimonopoly law in these counties.

More details about the ICN conference can be found on its official web-site: http://www.icn-thehague.org/page.php

The Federal Antimonopoly Service became a member of the ICN Steering Group and the sole Chair of the ICN Advocacy Working Group

A meeting of the ICN Steering Group took place on 19th May 2011 at the 10th Annual Conference of the International Competition Network (ICN) in Hague (the Netherlands).

The Steering Group discussed the main areas of prospective ICN activities for the next ten years and approved the new membership list of the ICN Steering Group and the Chairs of ICN Working Groups.

FAS Russia confirmed and continued its fully-fledged membership in the ICN Steering Group and also became the Chair of the ICN Advocacy Working Group.

According to Stats-Secretary, Deputy Head of FAS Andrey Tsarikovskiy, who took part at the meeting of the Steering Group, “the fact that FAS once again is confirmed as a member of the ICN Steering Group means that Russian Antimonopoly Service has an impeccable reputation and enjoys a high degree of trust from this influential international organization. Recognition of FAS Russia as the sole Chair of the ICN Advocacy Working Group illustrates efficiency of the efforts undertaken by FAS Russia in this area in the recent years”.

 

BRICS competition authorities met in Hague

The heads of competition authorities of Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa held a meeting at the 10th Annual Conference of the International Competition Network (ICN), which took place on 17-20th May 2011 in Hague (the Netherlands). The initiative was put forward by South African Competition Authority that has recently joined BRIC, transforming it into BRICS.

At the meeting the leadership of BRICS competition authorities discussed preparation to the forthcoming 2nd BRICS International Competition Conference, which will take place on 21-22 September 2011 in Beijing (China) as well as the Conference programme and agenda to ensure the most complete reflection of the pressing aspects of completion policy and enforcement in the BRICS countries.

The parties also discussed efforts to implement the Action Plan signed by the BRICS Presidents at the latest BRICS summit on 14th April 2011 in China, regarding possibility to conclude an Agreement on Cooperation between the antimonopoly authorities of the BRICS countries. More detailed discussion of the issue is planned within the framework of BRICS Conference with involvement of China.

Reference:

BRICS is a group of five countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Members of the group are characterized as the most rapidly developing large countries. An advantageous position of these countries is due to their vast resources - natural (agricultural, mineral), labour, intellectual – important to the global economy.