The Regional Centre for Competition (RCC), jointly run by the Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), held a three-day seminar in Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, between the 24th and 26th of September 2024. Experts from 17 institutions participated in the training.
Over the course of the multi-day event, the experts explored a number of competition law topics, sharing and building on each other's experience. They focused on the economic methodologies of market studies, the digital-enabled possibilities of on-site investigations, and the aspects of determining fines.
The event was opened by Attila Sipos, Secretary General of the GVH. In his welcome speech he stressed: "An important basis for effective competition enforcement is a comprehensive and in-depth knowledge of the markets under investigation. „Mastering modern and effective methodologies and sharing experiences of their application provides a basis for competition authorities to further strengthen their competition law toolbox.” The Secretary General of the GVH emphasised: "Our aim at all ROK seminars is to ensure that the participating experts return to their respective competition authorities with up-to-date knowledge and the latest experiences."
The Regional Centre for Competition in Budapest (ROK) operated by GVH, and the OECD was established on February 16, 2005, with the primary aim of providing support in the field of competition law and competition policy for East, Southeast and Central European state authorities. There are a total of three training centres in the world, one in Budapest, one in Peru, and one in the Republic of Korea.
The RCC regularly organises seminars and training courses in cooperation with the competition authorities of the beneficiary countries with the aim of promoting harmonisation with EU competition law. In September 2023, the RCC organised a multi-day training course in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, whereas in spring 2024, it organised a training course in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova. In March 2024, the heads of the competition authorities of 14 beneficiary countries visited Budapest.