FAS and “Non-Profit Partnership for Competition Support outlined the areas of work in 2016

On 4 February 2016 there was a scheduled meeting of representatives of FAS and lawyers specializing in competition law.

The Head of FAS Igor Artemiev discussed coming into effect the forth antimonopoly package of amendments to the antimonopoly law. He announced the first results of the applying one of the tools introduced by the package:  intradepartmental appeal. 4 complaints are already filed, of which 1 complaint shall be considered by FAS Presidium.

Deputy Head of FAS Sergey Puzyrevsky reported on the progress in drafting regulatory acts under the frame of enforcement of the forth antimonopoly package.  

He stated that “currently efforts are being undertaken to coordinate an anti-crisis draft law introducing immunities from antimonopoly investigation for small business and preventing formation of state and municipal unitary enterprises on competitive markets”.

Deputy Head of FAS Andrey Tsyganov pointed out that the Strategic Initiatives Agency recognized the Action Plan (the “Road Map”) for “Developing Competition and Improving the Antimonopoly Policy” executed. The second stage is now launched and experts of the Strategic Initiatives Agency began analyzing enforcement of the legal acts adopted to develop competition and monitoring their execution.

The experts also discussed antimonopoly compliance. “Introduction of the institution of antimonopoly compliance is an issue that must be handled fast-track. The concept should be given a legal definition, and if it takes place, a fine upon a company can be reduced”, said Igor Artemiev. Participants agreed that a draft law should be prepared in the near future.

Continuing the theme of changes to the antimonopoly law, the Head of FAS outlined the main areas of its improvement: "Today it is already clear that the next package of amendments will include legislative changes concerning tariffs, the Law on natural monopolies, a definition of the balance between intellectual property and the antimonopoly law”. According to Igor Artemiev, FAS will start working on the fifth antimonopoly package already in 2016.