The AMCU and the European Commission discussed cooperation within the framework of Ukraine's future candidacy

Strengthening cooperation between the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine and the European Commission's Directorate-General for Competition, in particular, in the field of consultations, exchange of experience and internships at the European Commission was discussed today by Olha Pishchanska, Chair of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine and Eddy De Smijter, Head of the International Relations Unit of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Competition. The meeting was also attended by the AMCU State Commissioner Serhii Shershun.

Colleagues paid the most attention to the issues related to the conditions of Ukraine’s future integration into the European Union, in particular, the full implementation of our country’s obligations in the framework of obtaining EU candidate status.

“This status creates new challenges for us. Many of them are related to the need to complete the unification of Ukrainian legislation. We discussed with  Mr. De Smijter, in particular, the implementation of the ECN + Directive and Regulation 2022/720 on vertical agreements and concerted practices. We agreed to create a regular channel for consultations in this direction with our European colleagues” the AMCU Chair said. At the same time, the meeting participants agreed that a more detailed action plan should be adopted after the decision on the candidacy itself has been made.

At the same time, State Commissioner Serhii Shershun noted the importance of internships at the European Commission for the rapid and effective transition of the competition agency of Ukraine to work according to European standards. Also, according to him, in addition to legislative changes, integration with the EU is impossible without restoring and strengthening Ukraine's economic potential.

Also, today, June 22, the AMCU`s top management held a friendly meeting with colleagues from the Lithuanian competition authority: Chairman Šarūnas Keserauskas and his Deputy Irma Urmonaitė. They talked about the following prospects of the joint project of international technical assistance “Support to the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine in the further approximation of legal, procedural and case enforcement practices with EU antitrust and merger control practices”. The conversation also touched upon the current prospects of Draft Law No. 5431, the fundamental legislative act for the first stage of the competition reform in Ukraine.

We would like to remind you that a delegation of the AMCU is currently participating in the OECD Competition Week, which is taking place in Paris. The event also includes a number of working meetings with foreign colleagues and representatives of international organizations.