21th session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Competition Law and Policy UN Conference on Trade and Development (IGE UNCTAD)

The 21^st session of UNCTAD Intergovernmental Group of Experts (IGE) on Competition Law and Policy took place on July 5-7, 2023 in Geneva (Switzerland).

During the three-day meetings, a number of issues in the field of competition policy, antimonopoly enforcement and improvement of legislation were considered. Round tables were held on issues of antimonopoly enforcement in the context of monopsies, relationship between competition and industrial policies, competition and regional economic organizations, as well as legislation and policy in the field of competition and sustainable development. Review of competition law and policy in Paraguay was discussed. The traditional review of capacity-building and technical assistance in competition law and policy, as well as report on the application of the Guiding Policies and Procedures under Section F (International Measures) of the UN Set on Competition and a report on the activities of the UNCTAD Working Group on Cross-Border Cartels were considered.

Representatives of FAS Russia expressed their position on a number of issues on the agenda, including with regard to the issues of antimonopoly enforcement in the conditions of monopsies and the relationship between competition and industrial policies, informing the participants about Russian practical experience in these areas and proposing directions for further development of competition legislation and enforcement to solve existing problems.

Resolution of the 21^st session of IGE UNCTAD established provisions for extending the mandate of the UNCTAD Working Group on Cross-Border Cartels.

In addition, the event included the 3^rd meeting of regional competition organizations, organized and moderated by the Eurasian Economic Commission, and attended by leaders and representatives of a number of international organizations of Africa and Latin America with powers in the field of antimonopoly enforcement.

During this event, Andrey Tsyganov, Deputy Head of FAS Russia, presented practical experience of cooperation in the field of competition in the formats of the Union State, EAEU, CIS and BRICS, and also proposed to continue work in this direction in order to study and generalize the best practices of interaction within regional and other international organizations.