The International Competition Network, ICN, founded at the turn of the century presently includes more than 100 competition authorities from all over the world. The FCA is also a member of the ICN.
As regards its members, the ICN differs from the OECD for example, which is above all an intra-governmental organisation. The ICN and the OECD work in good cooperation, however, and coordinate their mutual activities to avoid overlaps.
The aim of the ICN network is to increase knowledge and expertise in competition law and economics and to increase discussion on these topics in the world. For this purpose, it seeks to actively establish contacts to developing countries also in its competition policy.
It is typical of the ICN that in addition to competition authorities, business representatives and academics are also active participants in its work. Another feature describing the network is that it has no permanent staff which would prepare matters.
Membership in the organisation is voluntary and the resources of the members are exploited to best possible effect. With the exception of the annual meeting, matters are largely prepared through electronic communication (e-mails, telephone meetings).
Main areas of operations currently include cartels, mergers, unilateral conduct and deregulation and advocacy.
The main products of the operations are the practical reports directed at both the network members themselves and to companies, and particularly to countries in which the application of competition law is not yet established but just developing.
last modified 2/16/2012