OREANDA-NEWS. On September 19, 2008 the Chairman of the Italian Competition Authority Mr. Antonio Catricala and the Secretary General of the Authority Mr. Luigi Fiorentino visited the FAS Russia. The Heads of the competition authorities discussed the issues of cooperation and signed the Memorandum on Understanding, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

During the meeting the participants discussed the issues of competition regulation in the spheres of power energy and public procurements. In particular, the Russian experience of the public procurements system reforming, creation of the common all-Russian web-portal where all the customers publish the information on state order placement as well as the electronic platform for realization of purchases were discussed.

The Italian Party informed the FAS Russia about the changes in the structure of the Italian Competition Authority. The Authority was granted by the new functions - consumer rights protection and control over the public utilities sphere. The participant of the meeting discussed the Italian practice on the investigations of the violations of competition legislation by oil companies at the retail fuel trading.

Besides, the following issues were touched upon: the interaction within the frameworks of international organizations such as the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development and the International Competition Network, prospects of the further development of the cooperation between Russia and Italy in competition policy sphere.

The Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation and the Italian Competition Authority, signed as a result of the meeting, determines major forms and directions of the further cooperation between the competition authorities of Russia and Italy.