Addressing Competition Policy in the Framework of the EU-DCFTA Negotiation Processes: International Practice and Experiences
Begins:
Mar 10, 2010
Ends:
Mar 10, 2010
INFO
Description and Objectives
This video conference (VC) will support Armenian and Georgian government officials with enhancing the trade institutional framework to address issues related to competition policy in the preparation for negotiation and implementation of Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreements (DCFTAs) with the EU. The framework of the analysis for the competition policy will be the EU acquis. This VC seeks to raise awareness on how anti-competitive practices may restrict market access opportunities to multinational business and its negative effects on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inward flows. In addition, this VC stresses the need for certain degree of harmonization of rules and cooperation between national enforcement agencies to reduce compliance costs and uncertainty for multinational business. Moreover, this VC will help to harmonize criteria among competition policy makers and government institutions involved with international trade practices to promote export expansion and diversification using FDI as a leverage point.
Objectives
Help countries to better understand and to analyze the chapter related to competition policy of the EU acquis and provide suggestions for improving upon typical agreements with the EU.
Provide a platform for a strategic discussion among stakeholders on competition policy included in the latest DCFTAs and their implication for export driven development at the multilateral, regional, and bilateral levels;
Identify alternative and complementary policy tools for promoting trade in the region.
Methodology
This dialogue will be conducted using the World Bank’s country offices and the GDLN (Global Distance Learning Network) to connect participants in Armenia, Georgia, Romania, and Washington DC with experts on the strategic aspects of Competition Policy in the framework of DCFTAs. The format will be a presentation by a competition policy expert followed by Q&A from participants. The presentation and discussion will be in English only.
A one hour pre-video conference is scheduled to allow participants at each of the sites to discuss and formulate questions and comments for the VC speaker. Questions and comments generated by the participants at the sites during the pre-VC will be consolidated by local moderators in an online summary document that will be shared during the VC. Information regarding locations of World Bank country offices and GDLN centers where the event will take place are as follows:
Video conference start times at each location:
Washington 08:00 Yerevan 17:00 Tbilisi 17:00 Bucharest 15:00
Participating Countries
City/Country
World Bank Country Office or Participating GDLN Affiliate*Â
Starting Times
Yerevan, Armenia
World Bank Office: 9 Grigor Lousavorich Street
Gohar Gyulumyan- (374-10) 52-48-84
Tbilisi, Georgia
World Bank Office: 5A, Nino Ramishvili St, Tbilisi, 0179 Georgia
World Bank Office, S - Park, A2 Building,2nd Floor 11 - 15 Tipografilor Street, Sector 1
TBD
Washington, D.C.
GDLN Studio 2 (MC-C2-123)
Mr. Gary Fine/Mr. Zac Gunnison
*GDLN, or the Global Development Learning Network, is a partnership of distance learning centers worldwide dedicated to development. This series is coordinated by CARNet, the GDLN affiliate in Croatia.
For additional information, please contact: Gary Fine, ECA regional GDLN coordinator, gfine@worldbank.org, tel. +1 202 473 4741 Gustavo Garcia Benavides, World Bank, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management, ECA, ggarciabenavides@worldbank.org, tel. +1 202 473 7332
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AGENDA
Program Speakers
Expert Speaker
Mr. Simon J. Evenett - Professor of International Trade and Economic Development, Department of Economics at the Swiss Institute for International Economics and Applied Economic Research, University of St. Gallen, Switzerland
Case Study Country Representative
Ms. Doina Tudoran – Director, The Romanian Competition Council
Recourse Expert
Mr. Pedro Rodriguez- Lead Economist Caucasus Countries, Economic Management Unit, Europe and Central Asia Region, World Bank
Moderator
Mr. Gary Fine- GDLN Coordinator, Europe and Central Asia Region, World Bank
Targeted Audience:
Government officials (from trade, foreign, finance/economics ministries) directly involved in the conduct trade negotiations.
Government officials in sectoral ministries and regulatory agencies - in transport, finance, telecommunications, labor market, competition, national statistical offices –typically involved in managing the interface between trade and domestic regulatory reform.
Officials in development or planning ministries, whose tasks increasingly includes keeping track of ongoing trade and investment negotiations and fitting such efforts into the broader and long-term process of development.
Researchers in academia, think tanks, and regional research networks concerned with trade and regulatory policies.
International organization staff (including World Bank staff) involved in analytical, advisory, and technical assistance work related to trade.
SPEAKERS’ BIOS
Simon J. Evenett is Professor of International Trade and Economic Development, University of St. Gallen, Switzerland. He is also Programme Director of the most established group of international trade economists in Europe, the International Trade and Regional Economics Programme of the Centre of Economic Policy Research. Professor Evenett is an expert in the commercial policy and strategies of the USA, EU, and rising economic powers, such as China. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Cambridge and doctoral degree from Yale University. He has taught at Oxford University and for ten years held fellowships at the Brookings Institution, Washington DC. He was also Director of Economic Research, World Trade Institute, and has twice served as a World Bank official.
Doina Tudoran has served as Director for the Department for International Relations and European Integration, Romanian Competition Council (RCC) since 1996. As Director of IREI, Ms. Tudoran was involved in the coordination of the Competition Council’s team for the accession negotiations of Romania to the European Union in the field of competition. From 1990 through 1996 she served in the capacity of Economist, Romanian Competition Council, in the Prognosis and Price Evolution Directorate (1990 - 1992); Competition Protection Directorate (1992-1993) Expert IA, Head of Service within Competition Protection and Policy Directorate. She earned her degree as Economist in 1983 from the Academy of Economic Studies and in 2006, her Masters in Administrative capacity and acquis communautaire" from National School for Political and Administrative Studies, Public Administration Faculty.
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