European Commission, DG COMP - Competition

The contractor shall organise for the European Commission the EU-Africa School on Competition Policy in Brussels. All associated costs with the activity shall be covered by the contractor, including, among other, the transport, accommodation and logistics for invited guests, the provision of fully equipped meeting rooms, interpretation services, catering, in-person teaching materials, promotional materials, and fees/costs for speakers (where appropriate). The contractor shall be responsible for managing all aspects of the event organisation. The Competition Policy School shall offer workshops and lectures on competition law and policy (procedures, restrictive agreements, abuse of dominance, merger control State aid control, information on enforcement in the digital sector, including Digital Markets Act). Next to general principles of competition law and policy, a special emphasis shall be placed on sharing practical expertise and case studies highlighting investigative techniques, agency building and the benefits of convergence between competition laws (including procedures) and how to facilitate cooperation amongst competition authorities. The Competition Policy School shall take place in person for a full week, i.e., 5 working days for the Competition Policy School plus any necessary travel time, either in the third or fourth quarter of 2026 or, if not possible, in the first quarter of 2027. One out of the five course days shall be organised on the premises of the Contracting Authority (DG COMP, Madou square, 1210 Sint-Joost ten Node, Brussels). The Competition Policy School shall be organised for between 40 and 60 participants. The contractor shall identify a list of partner countries’ institutions in Africa i.e., competition authorities, ministries or other relevant agencies including institutions at regional level, and actively liaise with them, to identify two staff members per institution to invite and encourage their attendance. DG COMP shall provide an official introduction letter to introduce the project to the target countries. The final list of participants shall be approved by DG COMP before the contractor sends out the relevant invitations. The contractor shall ensure an inclusive approach to ensure the attendance of as many African countries’ and regional institutions’ representatives as possible and an equal participation of men and women to the extent possible. The contractor shall organise the registration of the participants, once the final list is approved by DG COMP. this action, consisting of one Competition Policy School, is designed to foster cooperation amongst African national and regional competition authorities. The focus of the planned activity will primarily be to explain key concepts of EU competition law and enforcement policy to African officials and to introduce them to the functioning of the European Competition Network. This action should allow African enforcement officials and policymakers alike to critically reflect on and review current domestic competition legislation as well as enforcement practices. As a potential result, competition law enforcement will become fairer, predictable and more rigorous, thereby improving investment conditions for EU and African companies on the African continent.

The subject of this call for tenders is expert consultancy services and reports in the context of the State aid framework applicable to financial institutions. Pursuant to article 108(3) TFEU, Member States have to notify State aid to the European Commission. The Member States can provide support to financial institutions in several ways. In case of unsound or failing credit institutions, Directive 2014/59/EU establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms is applicable ("BRRD"- OJ L 173, 12.06.2014, p. 190). In case of impaired assets, the valuation has to be based on the Communication Paper on the Treatment of Impaired Assets in the Community Banking Sector (OJ C 72, 26.03.2009, p. 1). Member States can also provide support outside the BRRD in situations specified in the Communication from the Commission on the application of State aid rules to support measures in favour of banks (the 2013 "Banking Communication" - OJ C 216, 30.07.2013, p. 1). Lastly, Member States can provide support that is free of State aid that is in line with the Market Economy Operator Principles as summarised in Section 4.2 of the Commission Notice on the notion of State aid (OJ C 262, 19.07.2016, p. 1). The call for tenders is divided into three lots. Lot 1 will be used for the determination of whether a measure is in line with the Impaired Assets Communication, incorporating detailed asset valuations. Lot 2 will be used to obtain external support for determining whether a valuation that is conducted by another party is based on appropriate and consistent methodologies. Lot 3 will be used when expert support is needed for market conformity assessments in non-impaired asset measures, such as public guarantee measures, equity injections, or funding support. The Commission anticipates to utilize the expert support services on multiple occasions over the next few years. Although the broad scope of services may be described in advance, the timing, quantity or the specific focus of the needed services can only be known in the context of the specific case to be assessed within this period.