The ninth session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Competition Law and Policy will be held 15-18 July 2008 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The session will open in Room XII on the third floor of the Palais, with the Ad Hoc Expert Group on Competition Law and Policy holding its meeting beginning at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 15 July, and the intergovernmental group of experts beginning its proceedings at 10 a.m. Wednesday, 16 July, at the same location.
Background documents and agenda
The provisional agenda, together with the secretariat´s annotations thereto, is being circulated as document TD/B/COM.2/CLP/65.
In line with the agreed conclusions adopted at the eighth session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Competition Law and Policy, held from 17 to 19 July 2007 (TD/B/COM.2/CLP/63), the consultations at the ninth session of the intergovernmental group of experts will focus on the following topics:
- The attribution of competence to community and national competition authorities in the application of competition rules
- Independence and accountability of competition authorities
The session of the intergovernmental group of experts will also be the occasion to conduct a voluntary peer review of Costa Rica. The group will also give guidance to the secretariat on its technical assistance and capacity-building activities for 2008/09.
Back-to-back with this session of the intergovernmental group of experts, the secretariat will hold a one-day Ad Hoc Expert Group on Competition Law and Policy to discuss the role of competition law and policy in promoting economic development. All participants in the intergovernmental group of experts are invited to participate in the ad hoc expert group.
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, 20 June 2008, in order to allow participants to prepare themselves for the consultations.
States members of UNCTAD wishing to propose topics for consultations during the next intergovernmental group of experts (2009) are requested to inform the UNCTAD secretariat as soon as possible. Ideally, we would like to receive the proposals by 30 June 2008, to enable participants to reach agreement on topics for the next round table discussions.
Participation
States members of UNCTAD wishing to nominate experts to the session are requested to do so by 4 July 2008.
Specialized agencies and intergovernmental bodies, should they wish to participate in the session, are requested to inform the UNCTAD secretariat by 4 July of the names of their representatives.
Non-governmental organizations in the general category who have an interest in the work of the intergovernmental group of experts and who wish to participate as observers are requested to inform the UNCTAD secretariat by the same date of the names of their representatives.
Logistics
The meeting will take place at the United Nations Office at Geneva, Palais des Nations. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided in the six official languages of the United Nations.
Before entering the Palais des Nations, participants are requested to collect their badges at the United Nations Security Service, Pregny Gate entrance, 14 Avenue de la Paix. Participants are required to carry a passport or similar national identity card with them. The Security Service is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (non-stop). Because of the security measures in force, participants are strongly advised to arrive before 9 a.m. in order to complete the entry procedures in good time and proceed to the meeting.
Taxis are not allowed to enter the grounds of the Palais des Nations. Visitors will therefore be dropped off at the entrance gates. Furthermore, luggage may not be brought into the buildings unless the Security Service gives special clearance.
Further information and contact details
Communications concerning representation 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.
Substantive and other inquiries should be addressed to the Competition and Consumer Policies Branch; fax: + 41(0) 22 917 0247; e-mail: george.lipimile@unctad.org and vitor.novaes.fonseca@unctad.org.
(signed)
Supachai Panitchpakdi
Secretary-General of UNCTAD
9 June 2008