Between 2017-2024
Project value: 5,000,000 EUR
The project was led by DEVELOPMENT Solutions Europe, sister company of SD Policies
Fair Competition is a fundamental requirement for international trade, investment, and the operation of business in global supply chains and across borders. The overall objective of this action is to support the European Commission, DG Competition, to foster cooperation in competition policy with Asian Competition Authorities and to promote convergence of competition policies, laws, and enforcement principles in line with best international and EU Competition practices. Additionally, the action aims to secure the effectiveness of EU Competition decisions and reduce barriers for EU companies. The project requires all aspects of logistics and event planning and delivery to support the work of DG COMPETITION in their official technical dialogues with partner Asian Countries, particularly in the context of FTA and investment treaties with Asian countries and regions. An important sector of focus was consumer welfare, highlighting the importance of a vibrant and transparent standards, conformity, and testing market, without which product conformity and consumer product safety can be compromised. The context of this work was to highlight a rational for improved market access for European Standards Bodies in these critical markets.
The project outputs support higher strategic objectives, for example debating the relationship and intersection between competition policy and wider themes, including IP and Standards. The project resulted in:
A total of 30 competition weeks implemented across 5 beneficiary countries in North-East and South-East Asia, including China over the course of this action. An indicative average of participants - 60 (min 10 – max 100). Each competition week included a series of core workshops, roundtables facilitating relevant dialogue between the EU and Asia Competition Authorities.
15 Competition Summer Schools delivered under this program, each with a duration of 2 weeks with up to 30 participants from Asian competition authorities. The summer schools are implemented in a university environment. The classes are taught in English by academics, lawyers, former and present DG COMP officials, covering related technical topics and practical cases tailored for the specific target group as established by prior Beneficiary Needs Assessment.
A total of 18 internships organized for officials of Asian governments, to attend in Brussels with DG COMP or in other EU Member State Competition Authorities. Delivery of a series of Online Competition Summer School for 90 Asian Officials.
Development of competition manuals or procedural guides for all Competition authorities for all events.