OREANDA-NEWS. November 26, 2010. “The third antimonopoly package” of laws abolishes the institute of notifications to the Federal Antimonopoly Service”, stated Igor Artemyev at the briefing organized by the Association of European Businesses (АЕB), reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

“By adopting the amendments, the notification control of economic concentration by FAS Russia will be abolished, including the agreements between financial organizations. Exceptions will be some transactions under Article 31 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”, said Igor Artemyev. “This way we will remove excessive burden from businesses and relieve ourselves of the workload unnecessary for development of competition”, believes Mr. Artemyev.

The Head of FAS Russia told members of AEB about other novelties in the “third antimonopoly package”, and amendments to the law on state procurement and the law on foreign investments.

According to Mr. Artemyev, since launching torgi.gov.ru there are 1400 registered users, of which 380 can already place information on the site. Currently torgi.gov.ru contains information regarding 179 bidding rounds (1026 lots) for leasing. It is planned that next year the site will also include information about privatization targets and seized property.

Igor Artemyev informed about the idea of introducing administrative complaint procedures in the investment and construction fields that are being discussed by the Government of the Russian Federation. “If is proposed that if a government official refuses to issue or delay issuing licensing and conciliatory documentation, any investor will be able to lodge a complaint about such actions to FAS Russia or the Prosecution Office. The decision must be made within ten days”, said the Head of FAS Russia. In his opinion, the number of complaints to FAS Russia can reach up to 120,000 per year.

Answering the questions from members of AEB and journalists, the Head of FAS spoke in favour of bringing together demand for and supply of oil products at a special site – St Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange. “Demand and Supply should be balanced at the same site. Such amendments to the law on state procurement are already drafted”, explained Mr. Artemyev.

The Head of FAS also talked about amendments to the 57-FZ Federal Law on foreign investments, motioned to the State Duma. In his view, the amendments are of liberalizing nature. Mr. Artemyev also said that at its next meeting the Government Commission on Foreign Investments can discuss proposals for excluding transactions within the same group of persons from the scope of the law on foreign investments.