In May 2013, Oxera delivered its first workshop for the Training of National Judges in EU competition law. The workshop was part of the European Commission’s ongoing initiative to ensure consistent decision-making in EU competition law across Member States, and was designed to provide a comprehensive grounding in the economic principles and practical tools used in EU competition law disputes across Member States. This training plays an important role in ensuring better use of economics in courts, and thereby more informed decision-making in competition law and policy across Europe. 

The workshop, organised in association with the Association of European Competition Law Judges was hosted at the Competition Appeal Tribunal, London, where Oxera was joined by guest speakers, Professor Ariel Ezrachi, Slaughter and May Professor of Competition Law, University of Oxford, Nicholas Green QC, and Dr Adam Scott OBE TD. The speakers addressed an audience of 21 judges from Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and the UK, and received a very positive response. 

Following the success of the first workshop, Oxera will be hosting a second one on October 29th–30th in Brussels. It will feature speaker sessions on the key economic principles relevant to assessment of potential infringements of Articles 101 and 102 TFEU and of private damages claims, as well as interactive case studies and mock hearings. This workshop will be attended by judges from Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania and Spain. 

As before, the workshop will be delivered by senior members of the Oxera Competition team—Dr Gunnar Niels, Director, Robin Noble, Associate Director, and Dr Avantika Chowdhury, Senior Consultant—and by Professor Ezrachi. Other guests include Dr Christian Huveneers, ‎ex-Vice-Chairman at the Belgian Competition Council.