The COMPETITION COUNCIL at OECD-GVH RCC

During March 25th to 26th, in Budapest, Hungary, the President of the Competition Council, Alexei GHERȚESCU, participated in the meeting of the heads of the competition authorities, organized by the Regional Competition Centre of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The event brought together high-level representatives of competition authorities from Central and Eastern Europe, providing a platform for discussion and knowledge exchange in two important areas: judicial control over competition cases and market concentration control. Several panels were organized during the meeting, including: "Judicial Control of Administrative Decisions: A Perspective from a National Agency and the Court of Justice of the European Union" and "Merger Control - A Comparative EU/US Perspective". 

Alexei GHERȚESCU, President of the Competition Council of the Republic of Moldova, contributed to these panels and discussed the experience of the competition authority in Moldova. Through his presentations and interventions, Mr. GHERȚESCU illustrated how the competition authority in Moldova addresses various challenges and opportunities in the targeted areas.

In particular, attention was drawn to the application of the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union in Moldova (which became mandatory after the amendment of the Competition Law in 2023), as well as aspects related to the use of economic analyses in investigations concerning anti-competitive practices.

Regarding the discussion on merger control, Mr. GHERȚESCU addressed the issue of the sufficiency of existing instruments at the European Union level to counter specific national-level problems, particularly the phenomenon of non-transparent concentrations, which are achieved through various methods of hidden control over undertakings, establishing links between market participants through so-called "front men" and other forms of takeover and control exercise.

By highlighting the specific perspectives and challenges of competition authorities, Mr. GHERȚESCU brought to the forefront the importance and relevance of the topics discussed, thus contributing to the development of a more efficient and tailored regulatory framework to current needs.

The experience of the Competition Council of the Republic of Moldova could serve as an important reference point for other competition authorities in the context of accession negotiations between Moldova and the European Union, and the obligations incumbent on the Competition Council in this process.

The meeting represented an important step in promoting collaboration and understanding among competition authorities in the region, thereby strengthening joint efforts to ensure a fair and efficient competitive environment.