Conference in Riga to discuss more effective competition protection

The European Competition Day Conference is organised once every six months by the country holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The conference will start with keynote speeches by the Latvian Minister for Economic Affairs, Ms Dana Reizniece-Ozola, the European Commissioner for Competition, Ms Margrethe Vestager, and the Chair of the Competition Council of Latvia, Ms Skaidrīte Ābrama. Representatives from the EU Member States’ competition authorities and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), along with leading scholars in the field of competition law (Professors Alison Jones, Eleanor M. Fox and William E. Kovacic), have been invited to take part in the discussions. 

The conference entitled  ”Broadening Borders for More Effective Competition Protection” is devoted to three main areas in which European competition authorities need to seek innovative solutions, or even change the current approach, in order to provide effective protection and to ensure fair and equal competition and a competitive European market. The one-day event will focus on three main topics:

1. Ensuring a Level Playing Field between Public and Private-Owned Businesses. The economic activities of public bodies can pose a threat to fair and equal competition, yet countries and municipalities throughout Europe still engage in business activities. The participants will discuss the role of competition authorities and opportunities for ensuring equal competition in situations when market participants are in different positions.
2. Updating Perspectives for Tackling Today’s Cartels. Cartels are very damaging both for competition in the market and for consumers. The speakers will share their experience regarding the latest methods for competition authorities to detect such infringements, and will analyse problem situations when business cooperation borders on infringement of the law.
3. Drawing a Line between the Constructive and Destructive Buying Power of Retailers. The lack of balance between the market power of large retail chains and small producers and distributors is a matter of concern in a number of EU Member States. At the same time, actions taken by policy-makers range from guidelines on proper cooperation to tough laws. This conference will provide an opportunity to collect and discuss past practical experience and research results.

The conference is aimed at representatives of EU national competition authorities, Latvian businesses and NGOs, representatives of national administrative and legislative authorities, academics, judges and lawyers specialising in competition law, and the media.