Considering the growing interest on competition law and policy and the need to increase the exchange of expertise and experiences among members of the Islamic Conference Organization.
Considering the declaration of Tunis in 2010 and the recommendations regarding cooperation between the member states of the Islamic Conference Organization in competition field.
Taking into account the decision of the 30th session of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (COMCEC) held in Turkey in 2014 for the organization by Tunisia of a seminar on competition law and policy for the Islamic countries.
Tunisia, in collaboration with the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation and Islamic Centre for Development of Trade organizes this seminar in Tunis June 3rd and 4th, 2015 with the participation of competition authorities in member countries of the Islamic Conference Organization and experts and representatives of international and regional organizations (CNUCED, The Arab League...).
The seminar covers a range of topics and issues related to competition law and policy, and Islamic countries experiences in these areas, with a focus on the following themes: - The relationship between competition policy and consumer protection. - The relationship between competition and regulatory authorities. - The effectiveness of competition authorities. - Final recommendations to enhance cooperation among Islamic countries in these areas.
As it appears from the attached provisional agenda, it will be allocated one session to each topic. The following is a list of the topics covered in each subject.
First theme: Competition and consumer protection.
Is the competition law related to consumer protection law?
Is the liberalization of a sector beneficial to consumers? Cases study.
What are the cases handled in competition that has positive effects on the consumer?
Are there any negative effects of increased competition on the consumers? Cases study.
Is there any cooperation between the competition authorities and consumer protection agencies? How it is done?
Is there any relationship between increased consumption and the degree of market openness to competition? Cases study.
Can we consider that the competition is complementary to the consumption?
Second theme: Competition authorities and regulatory authorities.
Overview of the regulatory authorities (how many regulatory authorities there are in your country, when and how were they created, and their role?)
Is the competition authority consulted in sectorial regulation or when taking restrictive measures?
Is he competition authority consulted by the regulatory authorities and vice versa, and is this consultation regulated by law? Cases study.
Can the intervention of an authority in an area be done without encountering competence issues?
Is there a memorandum of understanding between the competition authority and the regulatory authority?
Is there an exchange of information between these authorities? Cases study.
Are economics operators able to distinguish the competence of each authority without confusion?
Provide recommendations that can strengthen the role of these authorities without creating a confrontation between them.
Third theme: The effectiveness of competition authorities.
Overview of the competition authority in your country.
Structural and financial independence of this authority.
Authority annual workflow (cases number)
Average processing of files and cases.
Are there remedies to prioritize the cases processing? Influencing factors? Cases study and criteria if they exist.
Authority evaluation? Are there periodical publications for the authority activities?
The difficulties faced by the Authority in performing its mission (financial, organizational ...)?
Effective resources allocation. Cases study and criteria if they exist.
Efficiency in the implementation of decisions and commitments.
To maximize the exchange of experiences and expertise, and considering the limited time allocated to each subject, the states or the parties are invited to submit written contribution related to one or the three subjects to be covered by the conference and this in one of three working language (Arabic, English, French),. Oral contributions in the sessions will be limited to a brief presentation of these papers or devoted to discussion.
For more information, please contact the organizing committee at the following addresses: Mr GABSI Mohamed Bahri: Rapporteur General at the Competition Council
mohamed.gabsi@cct.gov.tn
Phone: 0021671961887
Fax: 0021671961953
Mme BALI Houyem: Director of Competition, Ministry of Trade
Houyembali@yahoo.fr
Phone: 00216 71781729
Fax: 00216 71797727
Or consult the websites below:
www.commerce.gov.tn / www.cct.gov.tn