Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Competition Law and Policy, fourteenth session

The Intergovernmental Group of Experts (IGE) on Competition Law and Policy is a standing body established under the United Nations Set of Multilaterally Agreed Equitable Principles and Rules for the Control of Restrictive Business Practices (UN Set) to monitor the application and implementation of the Set.

The UN Set is a multilateral agreement on competition policy, which was negotiated and adopted by General Assembly resolution 35/63 on 5 December 1980.

The Set:

• Provides a framework for international operation and exchange of best practices
• Recognizes the development dimension of competition law and policy
• Provides for equitable rules for the control of anti-competitive practices

The Fourteenth Intergovernmental Group of Experts will focus on the following topics:

• Benefit of competition policy for consumers

• Informal cooperation among competition agencies in specific cases

• Communication strategies of competition authorities as a tool for agency effectiveness

• Voluntary Peer Reviews of Competition Law and Policy of Namibia, Philippines and Seychelles

• Review of Capacity Building activities: UNCTAD's online data bank on competition cases

In addition, preceding the IGE will be the Ad Hoc Expert Meeting on the Role of Competition Law and Policy in Fostering Sustainable Development. A number of other international organizations have been invited to contribute to address different perspectives of the relationship between Competition and Development, and Intellectual and Industrial Property Rights in the case of WIPO, International Trade in the case of WTO, and Competitive Neutrality in the case of the OECD. The UNCTAD Secretariat will focus on the contribution of Competition to Resource-based development, and the role of Competition policy in Global value chains.

Written contributions

In order to facilitate the deliberations and the informal exchange of experiences and best practices on the topics to be discussed, member States and observers are requested to submit written contributions to the UNCTAD secretariat by Friday, 21 June 2013, to allow participants to prepare themselves for the consultations.

Information for participants

Participants at the meeting need bring copiers of their registration forms in order to collect their badge at the United Nations Security Service, Pregny Gate (opposite the Red Cross Building) before the meeting.

The Security Service is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Participants are strongly advised to arrive before 8.30 a.m. Participants are requested to carry a passport or a national identity card with them.