Cooperation worldwide
Regulatory bodies do not just cooperate within the European Union (EU), but they also cooperate with organizations outside the EU. If regulators in the EU work more and more similarly, rules become much clearer for businesses. In addition, tracking down companies that violate the Dutch Competition Act becomes easier, too.
Learning from each other
These regulators look for the best ways to implement and enforce competition policies. They share knowledge and exchange so-called ‘best practices’. This is the case, for example, when a country has had a case in a particular industry. Competition authorities in other countries can learn a lot from that experience – about what the structure of the industry is, what rules it has, in what ways companies violate those rules, and in what ways regulators can take action. Less experienced regulators can thus learn a lot from the more experienced regulators.
The NMa: a member of different organizations
The NMa is a member of several global organizations that focus on competition: ICN and OECD.
ICN
ICN (International Competition Network) is an organization of competition authorities from around the world. These authorities frequently meet each other in ICN in an informal setting. At ICN meetings, they discuss practical problems concerning competition. ICN seeks to improve worldwide cooperation among competition authorities. In addition, ICN seeks to achieve greater uniformity in laws, regulations and policies worldwide.
ICN maintains good relations with other international organizations (such as OECD, WTO and UNCTAD), with associations and lawyers involved in competition law or competition economics, with the private sector, with consumer organizations, and with scholars. The NMa is an active member of ICN.
OECD
The Netherlands is one of the OECD’s member states (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development). The OECD many different departments, or so-called ‘directorates’, including a directorate on competition. The NMa attends the OECD’s meetings on competition on behalf of the Dutch government. Its attendance is closely coordinated with other Dutch government organizations. The NMa plays an active role in the OECD.
