OREANDA-NEWS. May 28, 2010. Under results of the visit to Rome (Italy) the FAS Russia' delegation headed by the Stats-Secretary - Deputy Head of the FAS Russia Mr. Andrey Tsarikovskiy the Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation and the Italian Competition Authority was signed in the Italian Competition Authority. It defines the main directions and forms of cooperation of the agencies, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

During the meetings which were held in the Italian Competition Authority, including the International Department, Department for Community Affairs, Energy Department and other units of the Italian Competition Authority a wide range of issues regarding further development of bilateral cooperation between competition authorities of Russia and Italy was discussed.

During the meeting with the Director of the Department for Community Affairs Doctor Omrretta Main the issues on interaction between Italian Competition Authority and DG Competition of the European Commission were discussed. The FAS Russia' delegation informed Italian colleagues on cooperation between the Central Body of the FAS Russia and its Regional Offices. According to the Russian and Italian parties' opinion, the complexities involved in this process, are very similar to each other. Italian colleagues have similar problems in the interaction with the European competition authorities and the EU Commission.

The meeting with Director of the Competition Department Mr. Giovanni Calabro allowed, from the constructive point of view, to discuss the issues of antitrust enforcement and competition law improvement, as well as the most interesting cases on violation of the competition legislation.

During the official visit of the Russian delegation to Rome the meeting with the Advisor to the Chairman on economy, Mr. Alberto Nahmijas took place. The economic methods of assessment of the competition conditions in the markets of Russia and Italy, as well as the effectiveness of competition authorities activity were discussed.

During the conversation with the Director of the International Department Mr. Giovanni Napolitano the Parties discussed practical aspects of cooperation between two agencies, including the possible forms of cooperation in joint investigations, as well as details of the organization and holding the upcoming bilateral activities. Besides, the issues of competition development, information policy of the competition authorities, as well as the role of competition advocacy in the post-crisis period were discussed.

The meeting with Director of the Energy Department Mr. Alessandro Noce was very effective. During the conversation the issues of antitrust regulation in the markets of oil products in Russia and Italy were considered. In addition, Russian and Italian parties considered and approved the list of topics to be discussed on the upcoming June, 2010 joint Russian-Italian round table "Ensuring competition in the market of petroleum products".

The bilateral meetings with Italian colleagues held during the visit have demonstrated an active process of interaction between the Russian and Italian competition authorities in order to harmonize the principles of competition policy and enforcement practices of the two countries, as well as experience exchange on topical issues to promote competition that, in turn, contributes the creation of favorable economic and trade environment for enterprises of Russia and Italy.