Communication
The aim of the protection of market competition is primarily to create benefits for consumers and equal conditions for all entrepreneurs on the market, who, acting in accordance with the existing rules and competing on the market with the quality, price and innovation of their products and services, contribute to the overall development of the economy.
Leading economists from the world’s competition authorities meet in Hungary
The ICN and the Hungarian Competition Authority are hosting the 2025 meeting at the headquarters of the GVH in Budapest between 23-25 April. The event brings together 59 experts from 45 countries across six continents to share their experiences. Individual sessions on particular topics are introduced by professors from the Universities of Toronto, New York, Leuven, East Anglia and Queen’s. The conference covers a range of current topics, including the impact of digital platforms on product market competition and consumers’ everyday decisions; modern antitrust detection tools; methods for evaluating regulatory intervention; and the impact of artificial intelligence on competition.
The conference was opened by Csaba Balázs Rigó, President of the GVH and member of the ICN Steering Group, highlighting that “competition authorities are facing new and increasingly complex challenges, which require the discussion and adoption of the latest methodologies.” He added: “These challenges include, among others, infringing practices in the digital space, the rise of artificial intelligence and the inflationary shocks of recent years.”
The Hungarian Competition Authority has been paying close attention to developments in the digital space for several years. The GVH was one of the first EU competition authorities to carry out a market analysis on the potential impact of AI in 2024. Based on the results of the analysis, the Authority has made a number of recommendations to the Hungarian legislator, which could be implemented in the framework of a renewed national strategy for AI.
The Croatian Competition Agency (CCA) was represented by Davor Jakolić, Senior Advisor in the Office of the Chief Economist, who participated in a panel held on the first day, focusing on digital platforms. Mr Jakolić gave a presentation on the sector inquiry into the market for digital food delivery platforms conducted by the CCA.
The Chief Economist Meetings, held biennially, serve as a platform for senior economists from national competition authorities as well as distinguished representatives from academia to discuss economic aspects of competition policy.
