The tenth session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Competition Law and Policy will be held from Tuesday 7 to Thursday 9 July 2009. The session will open in room XII on the third floor of the Palais de Nations, Geneva, at 10 a.m. on Tuesday 7 July.
Background documents and agenda
The provisional agenda, together with the secretariat´s annotations thereto, is being circulated as document TD/B/C.I/CLP/1.
In line with the agreed conclusions (TD/B/COM.2/CLP/72) adopted at the ninth session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Competition Law and Policy, held from 16 to 18 July 2008, the consultations at the tenth session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts will focus on the following topics:
- The relationship between competition and industrial policies in promoting economic development;
- Public monopolies, concessions, and competition law and policy;
- The use of economic analysis in competition cases.
The session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts will also be the occasion to conduct a voluntary peer review of Indonesia.
The Intergovernmental Group of Experts will serve as a preparatory meeting for the Sixth United Nations Conference to Review All Aspects of the Set.
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 Monday 15 June in order to allow participants to prepare themselves for the consultations.
States members of UNCTAD wishing to propose topics for consultations during the Sixth United Nations Review Conference (2010) are requested to inform the UNCTAD secretariat as soon as possible. Ideally, we would like to receive the proposals by Monday 15 June 2009 in order to enable participants to reach an agreement on the 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 Monday 15 June 2009.
Specialized agencies and intergovernmental bodies, should they wish to participate in the session, are requested to inform the UNCTAD secretariat by Monday 15 June 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 Support Service, Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10; fax: 41 22 917 0214; e-mail: meetings@unctad.org.
Substantive and other inquiries should be addressed to the UNCTAD secretariat, Competition and Consumer Policies Branch; fax: 41 22 917 0247; e-mail: george.lipimile@unctad.org and veronica.rivera-cruz@unctad.org.
(signed)
Supachai Panitchpakdi
Secretary-General of UNCTAD
26 May 2009