Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Competition Law and Policy

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 ninth session of the IGE on Competition Law and Policy will focus on the following issues:

• The attribution of competence between community and national competition authorities and the application of competition rules
  
  
• Independence and accountability of competition authorities
  
  
• Voluntary peer review of competition law and policy of Costa Rica
• Review of capacity-building activities and technical assistance

The session will also provide an opportunity for delegates to discuss the outcomes of UNCTAD XII.

In addition, UNCTAD will hold an Ad-hoc Expert Group meeting on the role of competition law and policy in promoting growth and development. This meeting will be held on the eve of the 9th Session of the IGE, on 15 July 2008.

Information for participants

Nominations and related communications concerning representation at the ninth session of the IGE on Competition Law and Policy 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: correspondence@unctad.org).

Participants at the meeting need 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.

Substantive and other inquiries should be addressed to the Competition and Consumer Policies Branch (fax: + 41(0) 22 9170247; e-mail: competition@unctad.org).