

Mission Organization Chart Statutes Activities Plan Strategy Contacts National Legislation European Community Notification of Mergers Merger Decisions Other Cases and Decisions Non-notification cases Competition Authority European Commission Responsibilities National Bilateral Multilateral OECD WTO UNCTAD	Representação Internacional - OCDE - Organização para a Cooperação e Desenvolvimento Económico In the Competition Committee fourteen Annual Reports on Competition Policy were formally presented and the rest were submitted for information, including that of Portugal. In the Global Forum on Competition in which a lively discussion on cartel case studies was held, the Portuguese Competition Authority had the opportunity to recount its experience in the cases involving professional associations and the cartel in the pharmaceutical industry for glucose reagent strips. The Global Forum on Trade and Competition addressed the role that competition policy can play in the development of countries and the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals; it also discussed the interaction between trade and commerce. The Competition Committee: (i) adopted the report prepared by the WP2 on experience relating to structural separation; (ii) monitored preparation of the Policy Framework for Investment, which included a contribution involving competition policy; and (iii) carried out peer reviews on Sweden's competition policy and legislation and the implementation of regulatory reform in Korea. In addition, 39 Annual Competition Reports were submitted to the Committee. In accordance with the procedures adopted by the Committee, 14 Reports were formally presented and the remainder were submitted for information, including that of Portugal (DAF/COMP(2006)21/16, 29 Sep-2006). The Sixth Global Forum on Competition, which was held in Paris on 8 and 9 February, dealt with the topics “Franchises” and “Prosecuting cartels in which there is no direct evidence of agreement”. There was a high level of participation, given the special importance of the issues addressed. In this forum, too, there was lively discussion of cartel case studies in “breakout sessions”, in connection with which Portugal related the Competition Authority's experience, in particular in the cases of professional associations and the glucose reagent strips cartel in the pharmaceutical industry. Finally, the program included the voluntary review of competition policy and law in Taiwan (“peer review”). The Global Forum on Trade and Competition, which was held in Paris on 10 February 2006, debated the topics “Competition, Competitiveness and Development”, “Competition and the Millennium Development Goals (MCG)” and “Forms and Modalities of Co-operation: the regional approach to trade and competition”. These sessions addressed, in particular, not only the role that competition policy can play in helping to develop countries and in the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals but also the interaction between trade and competition. The next Global Forum on Trade and Competition will be held in 2008. Among the activities of WP2 (Meetings 33, 34 and 35), special mention should be made of the work carried out on the inclusion of competition-related aspects in RIAs (Regulatory Impact Assessments). On the basis of member countries' experience, particularly the United Kingdom's, it was possible to move ahead with the preparation and discussion of the Secretariat's work on the drawing-up of a toolkit. This toolkit will be submitted to evaluation by the Group on Regulatory Reform, so that it may be reviewed by the authorities responsible for the implementation of economic regulation before its approval by WP2. Also with reference to WP2 activities, three important round tables are worth noting. The topic dealt with by one of these round tables was new operators' access to transport networks, in particular gas pipelines, terminals and storage facilities and, also, infrastructure that directly serves the traditional transport sector. For this round table, the Competition Authority submitted a paper on access to natural gas transport and storage infrastructure in Portugal (DAF/COMP/WP2/WD(2006)15, 26-Jan-2006). The two other round tables covered important topics in the financial sector, such as competition and the efficient use of payment cards, and competition and regulation in retail banking. Given the interest of the two round tables with regard to regulation of the financial sector, the Competition Authority delegation was accompanied by representatives of the Bank of Portugal. No âmbito das actividades do WP3 (Reuniões 95, 96 e 97), foi dada ênfase ao papel das acções cíveis enquanto instrumento da política da concorrência, tendo-se realizado duas Mesas Redondas. Ainda no âmbito do WP3, decorreu uma outra Mesa Redonda sobre decisões extra-processuais relativas a cartéis. Para além disso, o WP 3 debateu, no decorrer de 2006, questões relativas às técnicas e ao nível de prova aplicáveis ao abuso de posição dominante, bem como à análise de operações de concentração.

Representação Internacional - OCDE - Organização para a Cooperação e Desenvolvimento Económico

In the Competition Committee fourteen Annual Reports on Competition Policy were formally presented and the rest were submitted for information, including that of Portugal.

In the Global Forum on Competition in which a lively discussion on cartel case studies was held, the Portuguese Competition Authority had the opportunity to recount its experience in the cases involving professional associations and the cartel in the pharmaceutical industry for glucose reagent strips.

The Global Forum on Trade and Competition addressed the role that competition policy can play in the development of countries and the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals; it also discussed the interaction between trade and commerce.

The Competition Committee: (i) adopted the report prepared by the WP2 on experience relating to structural separation; (ii) monitored preparation of the Policy Framework for Investment, which included a contribution involving competition policy; and (iii) carried out peer reviews on Sweden's competition policy and legislation and the implementation of regulatory reform in Korea. In addition, 39 Annual Competition Reports were submitted to the Committee. In accordance with the procedures adopted by the Committee, 14 Reports were formally presented and the remainder were submitted for information, including that of Portugal (DAF/COMP(2006)21/16, 29 Sep-2006).

The Sixth Global Forum on Competition, which was held in Paris on 8 and 9 February, dealt with the topics “Franchises” and “Prosecuting cartels in which there is no direct evidence of agreement”. There was a high level of participation, given the special importance of the issues addressed.

In this forum, too, there was lively discussion of cartel case studies in “breakout sessions”, in connection with which Portugal related the Competition Authority's experience, in particular in the cases of professional associations and the glucose reagent strips cartel in the pharmaceutical industry. Finally, the program included the voluntary review of competition policy and law in Taiwan (“peer review”).

The Global Forum on Trade and Competition, which was held in Paris on 10 February 2006, debated the topics “Competition, Competitiveness and Development”, “Competition and the Millennium Development Goals (MCG)” and “Forms and Modalities of Co-operation: the regional approach to trade and competition”. These sessions addressed, in particular, not only the role that competition policy can play in helping to develop countries and in the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals but also the interaction between trade and competition. The next Global Forum on Trade and Competition will be held in 2008.

Among the activities of WP2 (Meetings 33, 34 and 35), special mention should be made of the work carried out on the inclusion of competition-related aspects in RIAs (Regulatory Impact Assessments). On the basis of member countries' experience, particularly the United Kingdom's, it was possible to move ahead with the preparation and discussion of the Secretariat's work on the drawing-up of a toolkit. This toolkit will be submitted to evaluation by the Group on Regulatory Reform, so that it may be reviewed by the authorities responsible for the implementation of economic regulation before its approval by WP2.

Also with reference to WP2 activities, three important round tables are worth noting. The topic dealt with by one of these round tables was new operators' access to transport networks, in particular gas pipelines, terminals and storage facilities and, also, infrastructure that directly serves the traditional transport sector. For this round table, the Competition Authority submitted a paper on access to natural gas transport and storage infrastructure in Portugal (DAF/COMP/WP2/WD(2006)15, 26-Jan-2006). The two other round tables covered important topics in the financial sector, such as competition and the efficient use of payment cards, and competition and regulation in retail banking. Given the interest of the two round tables with regard to regulation of the financial sector, the Competition Authority delegation was accompanied by representatives of the Bank of Portugal.

No âmbito das actividades do WP3 (Reuniões 95, 96 e 97), foi dada ênfase ao papel das acções cíveis enquanto instrumento da política da concorrência, tendo-se realizado duas Mesas Redondas. Ainda no âmbito do WP3, decorreu uma outra Mesa Redonda sobre decisões extra-processuais relativas a cartéis. Para além disso, o WP 3 debateu, no decorrer de 2006, questões relativas às técnicas e ao nível de prova aplicáveis ao abuso de posição dominante, bem como à análise de operações de concentração.