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COMPETITION LAB FOR JUDGES

CARTELS

Budapest, Hungary 12-13 December 2024

Seminar objectives

The Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH) will hold a competition law seminar for judges in the framework

of the OECD-GVH Regional Centre for Competition (RCC) on 12-13 December 2024 in Budapest as part of

the Single Market Programme of the European Commission. Please note that the seminar will receive funding

from the European Union.

The event entitled “Cartels” elaborates on key substantive and procedural developments in cartel enforcement.

Cartels are regarded as the most detrimental violations of competition law and remain at the core of competition

law enforcement both at the EU and national level. The seminar will therefore provide judges with an overview

of how to assess collusive behaviour, in particular the requirements of the prohibition under Article 101 TFEU.

The seminar will also focus on the sources of information and guidance to which judges could turn when faced

with novel issues and special attention will be given to the assessment of evidence of collusive behaviour.

The topics will be addressed and discussed by competition law experts from OECD member countries. Practical

exercises on hypothetical cases involving all participating judges will provide an excellent opportunity to apply

the lessons of the seminar in practice. In addition, participants will be engaged in Q&A sessions with the experts

and will be encouraged to share their experience with one another to further promote cooperation.

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We encourage national judges who wish to deepen their knowledge of competition law, and cartels in particular,

to attend our upcoming seminar in Budapest. Please note that registration is open to national judges, prosecutors

and apprentice national judges dealing with competition law issues in one of the Member States of the European

Union, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia.

Each applicant is kindly requested to indicate his/her prior experience in general European competition law and

a good command of English is a prerequisite for registration.

Participation in the seminar is free of charge; the costs will be covered by EU and GVH funds.

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One place will be reserved for one applicant from each of the eligible countries. In case of multiple applications

from the same country, candidates will be selected on the basis of a number of criteria, including the applicants’

institution, position, years of relevant experience and previous pertinent training.

Participants shall make their own travel arrangements and their travel costs (economy class) will be reimbursed

by the organizers upon receipt of the invoice and other necessary documents after the seminar. Please note that

the costs of local transportation (taxi, airport transfer, public transport) and travel insurance will not be covered.

The organizers will take care of the reservations and cover the costs of accommodation for three nights between

11 and 14 December 2024. In addition, participants will be invited to a welcome dinner on 12 December 2024

and will receive lunch on both days of the seminar.

Please be informed that actual participation in the entire training is a necessary precondition for reimbursement,

which implies that if the participant cannot attend the seminar for any particular reason, the organisers will not

be able to reimburse any of the costs incurred. It is also important to underline that the participant will be liable

for refunding any costs incurred due to the modification or cancellation of an application that has already been

accepted by the event organisers.

Please note that the deadline for submitting your registration is 27 September 2024. Applicants will be notified

by 30 September 2024 if their registration has been accepted.

Should you require any further information or have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Ms.

Miranda Molnár (e-mail address: [email protected], phone: +36 30 693 8718).

Please forward this announcement to your colleagues who may be interested in participating.

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Seminar on European Competition Law

Funded by the Single Market Programme of the European Commission

COMPETITION LAB FOR JUDGES

Cartels

Budapest, Hungary 12-13 December 2024

Seminar objectives

Cartels are regarded as the most harmful violations of competition law and remain at the core of competition

law enforcement both at the EU and national level. The seminar will focus on the sources of information and

guidance that national judges can turn to when faced with complex or novel issues and special attention will

be devoted to the assessment of evidence of collusive behaviour, particularly the requirements of prohibition

under Article 101 TFEU.

Agenda

Thursday, 12 December 2024

09.30-10.00 Welcome remarks, Group photo

Csaba Balázs Rigó, President of the Hungarian Competition Authority

10.00-10.15 Questionnaire exercise – What do you know?

10.15-11.15 The economics and impact of cartels

11.15-11.30 Coffee break

11.30-12.30 Anti-competitive agreements, decisions by associations and concerted practices

12.30-14.00 Lunch

14.00-15.00 Price fixing cartels – Analytical framework and case examples

15.00-15.15 Coffee Break

15.15-16.15 Buyer cartels – Analytical framework and case examples

16.15-17.30 Hypothetical Case Exercise

19.00-22.00 Welcome dinner

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Friday, 13 December 2024

09.00-09.15 Reflections on what we learnt yesterday

09.15-10.15 Collusive tendering cartels – Analytical framework and case examples

10.15-10.30 Coffee break

10.30-11.30 Wage-fixing and non-poach cartels – Analytical framework and case examples

11.30-12.45 Hypothetical Case Exercise

12.45-14.00 Lunch

14.00-15.15 Evidentiary issues in cartel cases

15.15-15.30 Coffee break

15.30-16.30 Hypothetical Case Exercise

16.30-17.00 Kahoot game!

17.00-17.15 Questionnaire exercise – What do you know now?