The Hungarian Competition Authority and the OECD Regional Centre for Competition are holding a two-day training course to prepare Hungarian competition professionals to deal with the crisis-hit and uncertain economic environment.

The Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have been jointly operating the Regional Centre for Competition in Budapest since 2005. Building on the professional background of the two organisations, the Centre provides support in the field of competition law and policy to the countries of the Central and Easter European region.

The Budapest seminar of the Training Centre, which started on 18 October 2022, aims to train professionals from the domestic competition authorities, with the participation of experts from foreign competition authorities, the European Commission and the Court of Justice of the European Union. The objective of the two-day training is to enable Hungarian professionals to discuss the experience of leading European competition authorities and institutions in the current increasingly uncertain economic environment, and to identify the most effective solutions for Hungary to meet the new challenges. Among other issues, the experts will discuss how the functioning of competition authorities can contribute to economic recovery and growth in uncertain times, and what particular challenges exist in the field of consumer protection. The two-day training can provide an opportunity for Hungarian experts to learn about the latest European experiences and to discuss practical issues with the invited participants in an informal setting.

‘The economic shock caused by the pandemic and the disruption of trade chains due to the war in Ukraine will have significant impacts on our economies – both in Hungary, and in other economies of the world. All that will probably present enormous difficulties to millions of consumers, whose interests are protected by us’, stressed Csaba Balázs Rigó, President of the Hungarian Competition Authority, in his opening speech. ‘A strong competition policy is particularly important in times of crisis to ensure that the economic crisis is resolved, and the recovery is as fast and sustainable as possible. Competition authorities must therefore act without delay to support governments in managing the crisis in a sustainable way and to pave the way to recovery’, said Csaba Balázs Rigó, who also thanked the foreign speakers at the event.

         Following the seminar, the joint regional training programme of the GVH and the OECD will continue in November in Budapest according to the plans accepted last autumn with the training of judges, also supported by the European Commission.

Press Office of the GVH