Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Competition Law and Policy, thirteenth session

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 Thirteenth Intergovernmental Group of Experts will focus on the following topics:

• The Impact of Cartels on the Poor
• Prioritization and resource allocation as a tool for agency effectiveness
• Modalities and procedures for international cooperation in competition cases involving more than one country
• Voluntary Peer Reviews of Competition Law and Policy of Nicaragua, Pakistan and Ukraine
• Capacity-building and the UNCTAD voluntary peer review as a capacity-building tool

In addition, following the IGE will be the Second Ad Hoc Expert Meeting on Consumer Protection on Thursday and Friday 11 and 12 July, to discuss issues for the revision of the UN Guidelines for consumer protection. As you may be aware, UNCTAD has sent to the relevant consumer protection agencies and international organizations, a questionnaire to take stock of existing consumer protection legislation, which will serve as a basis for preparing the draft proposal for the revision of the UN Guidelines. The draft report will be sent to delegates in April 2013. Member states may wish to include in their delegation experts from both competition and consumer protection agencies.

This meeting will be preceded by the 4th meeting of the UNCTAD Research Partnership Platform on Sunday 7 July 2013.

Since there are limited number of places for the RPP meeting, delegates or observers who wish to take part in this event are kindly requested to inform Dr. Graham Mott by 6 June 2013, graham.mott@unctad.org or Tel: 00 41 22 917 45 73.

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, 21 June 2013, to allow participants to prepare themselves for the consultations.

Information for participants

Participants at the meeting need bring copiers of their registration forms in order 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).

For information regarding hotels and accommodation for the meeting, please see: http://www.geneve-tourisme.ch/

Quick links:

• Revision of the UN Guidelines on Consumer Protection

• Ad Hoc Expert Meeting on Consumer Protection (11-12 July 2013)

• Ad Hoc Expert Meeting on Consumer Protection (12-13 July 2012)

• The Sixth UN Review Conference