OREANDA-NEWS. May 31, 2011. At the X Conference of the International Competition Network (ICN) 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, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

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.