OREANDA-NEWS. September 11, 2014. The Head of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia), Igor Artemiev, made this statement in St Petersburg at the formal opening of the plenary session of “Competition Day in Russia”.

He outlined four pillars of competition policy that directly influence development of competition: control over compliance with the antimonopoly law, control over competition-preventing actions (тsuch as actions by the authorities, tenders and auction), robust state measures to develop competition (Orders by the President of the Russian Federation, decisions of the Government of the Russian Federation and Governmental Commissions, the Competition Development Program, the Road Map) and sectoral reforms through changing industry-specific laws.

As an example of enforcing compliance with the antimonopoly law the Head of FAS quoted a case against “Russian Railways” OJSC. The monopolist refused to render integrated services for carriage under regulated tariffs and FAS found that it abused market dominance and fined the company 2 billion RUB.

Igor Artemiev also reminded of Kemerovo case on coal shipping which is an example of control over competition-preventing actions by the authorities.

The Head of FAS pointed out that the Government of the Russian Federation is interested and supports development of competition in the country, which is demonstrated by forming the Governmental Competition Commission, adopting the Road Map, annual FAS reports on the state of competition and real results of such policy, particularly, implementing the “technological neutrality” principle, abolishing “mobile slavery”, and launching deregulating the tariffs for land-line telephony.

“The Road Map is good and if we implement it, it will be possible to talk about a very powerful breakthrough in developing competition. Today we have completed a half of its measures” stressed Igor Artemiev.

He added that “as for FAS annual Report it is about shortcomings and it is important for me that for already 8 successive years we have been raising controversial issues and if they listen to us it means that pro-competitive policy will continue”.

The Head of the Antimonopoly Service emphasized that sectoral reforms through changing industry-specific legislation is exceptionally important for developing competition. He said that antimonopoly norms are introduced to many industry-specific laws, the Rules for organizing tenders for the right to conclude contracts for use of fish-breeding sections; and amendments to the Federal Law “On Concession Agreements” put forward by the antimonopoly authority came into force.

These amendments liberalized considerably the procedures for attracting investments in the economy, which will strengthen competition in various sectors.

A draft law on amendments to the Law “On Protection of Competition” in the part of administrative appeals in construction is approved by the State Duma in the first reading. Complaints about violations by the authorities and local self-government bodies in construction and land maters shall be considered within seven days and administrative liability of officials shall be introduced.

“Only all these measures together enable efficient competition policy in all sectors and spheres of the economic life in Russia. It is essential for large countries to have a strong body with broad powers. All arrows should aim at the same target, and our target is to develop competition”, concluded Igor Artemiev.