European Chamber
Combined Legal and Competition Working Group Meeting, Thursday 1 July, 16:30-18:00
Dear Member,
The European Chamber is pleased to invite you to a combined Legal and Competition Working Group meeting on Thursday afternoon 1 July, 16:30-18:00. Register with my colleague Jasmine Shi at jshi@euccc.com.cn, indicating to her your presence in Beijing or Shanghai. The draft agenda is as follows:
1. Position Paper update
The Text of the Position Paper will be final by the time of our meeting. We will then briefly review the next steps of the process (printing, publication) and our possible actions after publication. What is our plan of approach towards the Chinese and EU governments to achieve our formulated Key Recommendations?
2. Merger Filings in China
The EUCCC met recently with representatives of MOFCOM’s Anti Monopoly Bureau to discuss process issues in Merger Filings in China. Francois Renard, Chair of the Competition sub WG in Beijing, lead the European Chamber delegation at this meeting. He will take us through the proceeds of the meeting, the next steps and the requests which the Anti Monopoly Bureau has formulated for our Members.
3. Cooperation with the Law Society England & Wales and Shanghai Bar Association – presentation with update and next steps; Ben Raby, Consul Trade and Investment of the British Consulate General in Shanghai
4. Ministry of Justice annual inspection
Report on Department of Lawyers and Law Firms of the Ministry of Justice survey meeting / annual inspection - Ralph Koppitz, TAYLOR WESSING:
5. Legal Recommendations for the next EU-China Summit (October 2010)
EU Commissioner Reading has recently asked the European Chamber personally, during her visit to Shanghai EXPO, input from the Legal WG on concrete recommendations regarding “Transparency” and “Rule of Law” in China. She wants to include these recommendations in the discussion points with her Chinese counterparts at the next EU-China Summit, coming October in Brussels. As you might remember, the last EU-China Summit was held last October in Nanjing. At our WG meeting, we can discuss the set up of a document, along the lines of our Key recommendations in our Position Paper. Commissioner Reading would like to receive a document by the end of August.
6. Future events and seminars to be organised by the European Chamber – discussion and decision
Many topics will lend themselves for future WG meetings and open Seminars. The European Chamber invites you to give input and bring ideas: “State Secrets”, “Utilisation of Foreign Capital”, “Reforms in the legal service market”, etc.
7. Any Other Business
(In case of sufficient enthusiasm and sunny weather, we can “extend” the Shanghai part of the meeting informally with Thursday afternoon drinks, nearby in Xintiandi. BJ WG can opt for a similar arrangement )