16 – 17 November 2023
The 5th EU-Korea Competition Week took place online on 16 and 17 November 2023. The initiative is the fifth in a series of annual dialogues providing a platform for cooperation and frank exchanges between the European Commission Directorate-General for Competition (DG Competition), the EU Member States National Competition Authorities and the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC).
The discussions focused on assessing tying arrangements in abuse of dominance cases and suitable remedies, as well as on best practices for antitrust proceedings and strengthening procedural fairness and transparency.
The Competition Week allowed both sides to address the priorities and challenges in their competition policy and enforcement and to engage in constructive technical and practical exchanges.
EU-Korea Competition Weeks take place annually, allowing officials from DG Competition and the KFTC to exchange experiences to enhance cooperation, transparency and convergence in the field of competition policy, to the benefit of citizens and businesses in both the EU and in Asia.
AGENDA
TBC
Thursday 16 November 2023
Assessing tying arrangements in abuse of dominance cases and suitable remedies
07:15-07:30: Registration / Virtual room open
07:05-07:25: Opening remarks:
- Mr Donghoon YANG, Director, International Cooperation Division, Korea Fair Trade Commission
- Mr Jorg Weberndorfer, Minister Counsellor, Trade Section, EU Delegation to the Republic of Korea
- Mr Torben TOFT, Senior Expert, Directorate-General for Competition, European Commission
07:50 -10:30: Assessing tying arrangements in abuse of dominance cases and suitable remedies
This session discussed the analysis of tying arrangements in abuse of dominance case and appropriate remedies. It considered the theories of harm, potential sources of evidence, the analysis of the effects as well as remedies. The discussion highlighted evolutions of approaches to the assessment of effects and enforcement priorities. It reviewed cases and the impact of court decisions in this area to highlight the approach used.
Moderator: Ms. Hilary Jennings, Senior Competition Expert, Competition Cooperation Project
Presentations by:
- Mr Donghoon Yang, Director, International Cooperation Division, KFTC
- Mr Luca MANIGRASSI and Mr Fabian KAISER, Case Handlers, Antitrust Case Support & Policy, Directorate General for Competition, European Commission
Discussion session
Friday 17 November 2023
Introducing Procedures of Case-handling and Investigation and Efforts to Enhance Investigatory Competency and Consistency of Competition Agency
07:15-07:30: Registration / Virtual room open
07:35-10:20: Best practices for antitrust proceedings and strengthening procedural fairness and transparency
This session explored approaches to improving transparency and procedural fairness in competition enforcement investigations. This underpins the effectiveness, reasonableness and consistency of competition law enforcement regimes and their implementation through day-to-day enforcement. There is a level of consensus about the principles that underpin procedural fairness and transparency, and this session explored how these principles are applied in practice by DG Competition and the KFTC in the conduct of their antitrust proceedings. This includes the overarching procedural framework, as well as specific steps at different stages of the investigation and its conclusion to improve procedural fairness and transparency, including internal checks and balances, best practices and judicial review.
Moderator: Ms. Hilary Jennings, Senior Competition Expert, Competition Cooperation Project
Presentations by:
- Ms Elisavet ARSENIDOU, Policy Officer, Antitrust Case Support & Policy, Directorate General for Competition, European Commission
- Mr Changhyong LEE, Deputy Director, International Cooperation Division, Korea Fair Trade Commission
Discussion session
10:20-10:30: Closing remarks
- Mr Torben TOFT, Senior Expert, Directorate-General for Competition, European Commission
- Mr Dongil NAM, Director General, Competition Policy Bureau, Korea Fair Trade Commission