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

Background and purpose of the meeting

In line with the agreed conclusions adopted by the Intergovernmental Group of Experts at its fifteenth session on 21 October 2016, the consultations at the sixteenth session will focus on the following topics:

• Capacity-building activities and technical assistance implemented

• Challenges faced by young and small competition authorities in the design of merger control

• Enhancing international cooperation in the investigation of cross-border competition cases: Tools and procedures

• Voluntary peer review of the competition law and policy of Argentina

Written contributions

In order to facilitate 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, 2 June 2017.