Consistent Application of Competition and State Aid Rules are Essential for Fair Competition: highlight of training for legal professionals
Over 20 legal professionals gathered at the National Institute of Justice for a specialized training on the theoretical and practical aspects of competition law and state aid, aimed at strengthening the application of European Union competition rules in the context of Moldova’s EU accession path.
The training focused on the implementation of competition and state aid legislation in line with the EU acquis, providing participants with practical knowledge on detecting and addressing anti-competitive practices, as well as understanding the legal framework governing state aid.
During the first session, discussions covered anti-competitive agreements prohibited under competition law, including price-fixing cartels, market and customer sharing arrangements, exchanges of commercially sensitive information, bid rigging in public procurement procedures, and resale price maintenance agreements.
Participants analyzed real-life scenarios and engaged in interactive exercises, applying legal principles to concrete situations and thus deepening their understanding of competition enforcement.
The second session focused on the application of EU state aid rules in the Republic of Moldova. Judges explored the provisions of EU state aid law, including the concepts of state aid, existing and new aid, illegal aid, incompatible aid, and the recovery of unlawfully granted support.
Additional case studies examined the concept of selectivity in fiscal measures and the legal challenges associated with recovering incompatible or unlawful state aid, offering participants practical insights into the application of these principles in judicial proceedings.
The event contributes to ongoing efforts to strengthen the capacity of Moldova’s judicial system and legal community in the field of competition and state aid law. Enhanced understanding and consistent application of these rules are essential for ensuring fair competition, promoting transparency, and advancing the country’s alignment with European Union standards.
The training was organized in the framework of the EU- and Denmark-funded project’ Moldova is Europe – Support for EU Integration’.