OREANDA-NEWS  On 02 March was announced, that in the period of 16-20 February, 2009 the delegation of the FAS Russia took part at the OECD Competition Committee meetings and the Global Forum on competition which were held in Paris (France). The delegation of the FAS Russia was leaded by Mr. Andrey Tsyganov, the Deputy Head of the FAS Russia.

Delegation participated part in the discussion of the issues proposed by Agenda of the given events. At the Roundtable on the topic "Crisis: Role of competition policy in financial sector rescue and restructuring" Mr. Andrey Tsyganov informed about measures that FAS Russia has taken under the conditions of the global financial crisis.

One of the measures was significant reduction since November, 2008 of the time limits for the notifications on transactions' consideration from 90 days that are stated it the Federal Law №135-FZ "On Protection of Competition" to 30 days. This reduction enables the economic entities to conclude transaction faster.

At the same time the Deputy Head of the FAS Russia Mr. Andrey Tsyganov marked that in the period of existing financial crisis the FAS Russia does not weaken the control over business activity of economic entities.

Besides, delegation of the FAS Russia took part ICN Steering Group meeting, during which the number of current issues on organization' activity was discussed, including issues of preparation for the 8th ICN Annual Conference which will be held in June, 2009 in Zurich (the 6th ICN Annual Conference was held in 2007 in Moscow). The delegation of the FAS Russia informed the participants of the ICN Steering Group meeting about the forthcoming seminar on fighting against cartels, con-jointly organized by the FAS Russia, ICN and OECD in Saint Petersburg, and also indicated issues that will be most interesting and useful for the Russian participants.

During the Global Forum on competition Mr. Andrey Tsyganov made a speech on the topic "Competition policy, industrial policy and national leaders" in which he emphasized the central role of the competition policy in the new plan of economic development of the Russian Federation. Also Mr. Andrey Tsyganov acquainted the representatives of the Global Forum on competition with the results of the FAS Russia's activity in the field of improving competition legislation and practices, including with the gained success in the field of reforming of natural monopolies on the market of electric energy, railway transport and communication.

Discussion of the topic "Challenges facing young competition authorities" was divided to the sections. The first section was devoted to the initial difficulties of the development of antitrust legislation in the Russian Federation and Mexico as well as to the following changes. The other was devoted to the discussion on competition culture, labour resources, mergers, evaluation of the competition authorities' efficiency.

In general, the participation of the FAS Russia in the similar events helps to increase the reputation of the Russian Federation among world competition authorities, and also to develop relationships with leading competition experts in the field of competition policy.