31 October - 02 November 2006

Competition law and policy context: the UN set

The UN Set is a multilateral agreement on competition policy that:

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

This framework also provides vital technical assistance and capacity-building for interested member States so that they are better equipped to use competition law and policy for development. Each year, an Intergovernmental Group of Experts (IGE) on Competition Law and Policy meets to monitor the application and implementation of the UN set.

The 7th IGE will be preceded by an ad hoc Expert Group devoted to regional integration. The Meeting will focus on:

The relationship between competition authorities and sectoral regulators, particularly with respect to the abuse of dominant positions;
International cooperation in investigating and prosecuting hard-core cartels affecting developing countries;
Cooperation and dispute settlement mechanisms relating to competition policy in regional free trade agreements, taking into account issues of particular concern to small and developing countries;
The relationship between competition law and policy and subsidies.
Voluntary peer review of competition law and policy of Tunisia.

Information for participants

Nominations and related communications concerning representation at the 7th IGE should be sent to the UNCTAD secretariat, Intergovernmental Affairs and Outreach Service, Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10 (fax: + 41 (0)22 917 0214; e-mail: [email protected]).

Participants to the meeting need to collect their badge at the UN Security Service, Pregny Gate (opposite the Red Cross Building) before the meeting. The Security Service is open from 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 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.

Substantive and other inquiries should be addressed to Competition and Consumer Policies Branch; fax: + 41(0) 22 9170247; e-mail: [email protected].