24th EU-China Competition Week

Monday 12 December 2022

Update on EU and PRC legislative and policy developments

06:45-07:00: Registration / Virtual room open

07:05-07:30: Opening remarks

• Mr Zhou ZHIGAO, Deputy Director, Competition Policy Coordination Bureau, State Administration for Market Regulation
• Mr Torben TOFT, Senior Expert, Directorate-General for Competition, European Commission

07:30-08:45: Session I – Update on EU policy developments

Moderator: Ms Hilary JENNINGS, Special Adviser on Competition Policy, Competition Cooperation Project

Overview:

• Update on recent legislative developments and guidelines;
• Update on policy initiatives

Presentation by

• Mr Torben TOFT, Senior Expert, Directorate-General for Competition, European Commission

Q&A

08:45-10:00: Session II – Update on competition policy and legislative developments in the PRC

 Overview:

• An update on the revised Anti-Monopoly Law
• An update on draft implementing regulations

Presentation by

• Mr CAI Junfeng, Director, Legal Supervision Division, Competition Policy Coordination Department, SAMR

Q&A

Tuesday 13 December 2022

Competition, standardisation and innovation – EU and PRC

06:45-07:00: Registration/ Virtual room open 

07:05 – 08:30 Session I – The EU’s approach to balancing competition, standardisation and innovation

Overview

• IP, standardisation and innovation
• Main cases on IP licensing and standardisation
• Future direction

Presentation by

• Mr Luca MANIGRASSI, Case Handler Officer, Antitrust Case Support and Policy, Directorate General for Competition, European Commission

Q&A

09:30 – 11:00 Session II – The PRC’s approach to balancing competition, standardisation and innovation

Overview

• Legislative and procedural background
• Main developments and rationale for intervention
• Key issues in SEP decisions – e.g. determination of FRAND royalty rates

Presentation by

• Mr ZHAI Yunpeng, Director, Abuse of Dominance Investigation Division I, Antitrust Enforcement Bureau I, SAMR

Discussion and Q&A

Wednesday 14 December 2022

Innovation assessment in merger review

06:45-07:00: Registration / Virtual room open

07:05-10:00 Session I: Innovation and merger control

Overview

• A new approach?
• Impact on merger notification thresholds?
• Innovation theories of harm
• Evidence and measures used in the analysis
• Remedies
• Recent case examples from the EU and the PRC

Presentation by

• Mr Wang LILE, Concentration Scrutiny Division I, Antitrust Enforcement Bureau II, SAMR

Q&A

• Mr Stephan SIMON, Senior Expert, Mergers Case Support and Policy, Directorate General for Competition, European Commission

Q&A and discussion session

Thursday 15 December 2022

Update on developments in EU State aid policy; Update on implementing the Fair Competition Review System

06:45-07:00 Registration / Virtual room open

07:05-08:30 Session I: EU State aid policy developments

Overview:

• State aid developments in light of policy objectives on: the green economy, digital transition and supporting a resilient Single Market
• Specific policy measures, e.g. Climate, Environmental protection and Energy Guidelines; Framework for State aid research, development and innovation; Communication on Important Projects of Common European Interest; Amendment of the State Aid Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) in light of the Green Deal; Broadband Guidelines;
• Priorities and next steps

Presentation by

• Ms Graça DA COSTA, Senior Expert, State Aid Strategy, Directorate General for Competition, European Commission

Q&A

08:30 – 10:00 Session II: Implementation of the Fair Competition Review System

Overview:

• Update on the implementation of the FCRS, including policy developments and impact of recent guidelines
• Recent case examples of the application of the FCRS
• Priorities and next steps

Presentation by

• Ms Lin MAI, Deputy Director, Fair Competition Review Division, Competition Policy Coordination Bureau, SAMR

Q&A

Friday 16 December 2022

Introduction to EU competition law; Institutional arrangements in the enforcement of competition law in the EU and PRC

06:45-07:00 Registration / Virtual room open

07:05-09:00 Session I: Introduction to and overview of EU Competition Law

Overview:

• Objectives of EU competition law and priorities
• EU competition law instruments – legal framework and application

Presentation by

• Michael Albers, Competition Law Consultant, former EU Hearing Officer for Competition

Q&A

09:00-10:45 Session II: Institutional arrangements in the enforcement of competition law

Overview:

• Decision-making process in DG COMP and the European Commission
• Central and decentralised enforcement – the relationship and work-sharing between the European Commission and national competition authorities in the EU and EEA
• The role and function of the European and national courts in EU competition law enforcement

Presentation by

• Ms Ana Garcia-Castillo, Deputy Head of Unit, Communications Policy, Directorate General for Competition, European Commission

Commentary on PRC experience

• Mr ZHU Bingdong, Deputy Director, General Affairs Division, Competition Policy Coordination Bureau, SAMR
• Ms CHEN Qianting, Deputy Director, Abuse of Dominance Investigation Division II, Antitrust Enforcement Bureau, SAMR

Q&A session

10:45 – 11:00 Closing remarks

• Mr Torben TOFT, Senior Expert, Directorate-General for Competition, European Commission
• Ms Zhao Chunlei, Deputy Director General, Policy Coordination Bureau, SAMR