Poland - 12th ICN Conference - Warsaw, 24-26 April 2013

Today we witness the commencement of the greatest international event devoted to the protection of competition and held in Wasaw. This year UOKiK is the host of the International Competition Network conference. Over 500 representatives of competition protection authorities, law offices and academics worldwide will be discussing for three days the greatest challenges of antimonopoly law

The International Competition Network (ICN) was formed in New York in 2001. It consists of 123 competition protection authorities from 111 states. The main task of the network is the exchange of experiences between institutions operating in various legal regimes, however, focused on the same target - the protection of competition. UOKiK has been involved in these works since the very beginning of the ICN.

The heads and experts from antimonopoly authorities associated within the Network meet at annual conferences held by one of its members. So far, Seoul, Moscow, the Hague and Rio de Janeiro, have been hosts to these meetings. For three days, starting from today, during the event held by UOKiK, the ICN members will be discussing in Warsaw the greatest challenges of antimonopoly authorities.The raised issues will touch upon five activities: enforcing and promoting the competition policy, cartels, concentration and the abuse of a dominant position.

The exchange of experiences is crucial from the perspective of globalization and the development of global economy which make the impediments to competition cross borders and the fight against them involves undertaking cooperation of given states. - Today’s conference proves the global commitment of antimonopoly authorities, representing 111 states, in searching the best measures for protecting market competition – stated Bronisław Komorowski, President of the Republic of Poland when starting the meeting.- Competiton is to serve consumers. Well-informed consumers are the engine of economic changes, because their choices stimulate the economic growth and increase the innovation – emphasised the President.

Eudardo Perez Motta, ICN Chair and President,  added that the main task of the ICN is bringing competiton to a broader audience and stressing its importance especially in the developing countries. Joaquin Alumnia, EC Vice-President and Commissioner for Competition, shares that view: - ICN works out standards which are adopted by antimonopoly authorities either these who joined the Network a long time ago or its new members. Our common work is to promote the best standards for the global market.

UOKiK’s special project

Every year the conference host drafts a special project whose results are presented as part of a panel. Last year UOKiK drew up a report examining the relation between the competition protection authorities and courts of 45 ICN members. The project was to diagnose the condition, identify measures and good practice applied by authorities in the scope of enhancing cooperation with courts. – All members of the network realize that the condition of competition in particular states is shaped not only by antimonopoly authorities, but also by judges, who undoubtedly enjoy the right to exert control over our decisions – claims Małgorzata Krasnodębska-Tomkiel, the President of UOKiK.

The report drafted by UOKiK demonstrates that both courts and authorities realize how vital it is to maintain positive relations between them and broaden their knowledge. However, some states still challenge the lack of expertise of their judges in the field of competition and insufficient economic background. For this reason, authorities pursue drafting decisions using the possibly most intelligible language, this refers to producing economic evidence in particular. Furthermore, respondents indicated that judges gain their knowledge armed with their experience, thus for many national authorities it is a priority to disseminate knowledge of antimonopoly law by way of conducting trainings and holding conferences. This has been mentioned by the United States officials, where the antimonopoly law has been in practice for the most significant time, Pakistan, where competition protection laws came into force in 2010, or the Brazilian Competition Authority whose officials themselves explain to judges the significance of issued decisions as well as clarify the provisions of law.

The conference programme and report are available on UOKiK’s website.