In February 2005, the Hungarian competition authority and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development established the OECD-GVH Regional Centre for Competition (RCC) in Budapest. Over the past two decades, the RCC has become a vital institution for capacity building and policy advice in Eastern Europe and Western Asia.

The RCC celebrated its 20th anniversary on 28 February 2025 with a conference that reviewed its achievements and set future cooperation guidelines. Notable attendees included Benoît Cœuré, president of the French competition authority, and Carmine Di Noia from the OECD. Croatia was represented by Mirta Kapural, PhD, president of the Croatian Competition Council, and vice-president Branimira Kovačević, MA.

Established to enhance expertise in competition law and policy, the RCC supports competition authorities in Eastern and Southeastern Europe and Central Asia through educational programs. It is one of only three such centres globally, alongside those in Peru and South Korea. Since its inception, the RCC has organized 158 events, attracting nearly 5,700 participants and over 1,000 speakers.

Currently, the RCC collaborates with 17 beneficiary countries, including Albania, Azerbaijan, and Ukraine, among others. The anniversary conference featured presidents of competition authorities from these nations, emphasizing the RCC's role as a platform for knowledge exchange and policy development.

Csaba Balázs Rigó, president of GVH, opened the event, highlighting the RCC's significance in shaping competition policy in the region. Bence Gerlaki, Deputy State Secretary, noted the RCC's contributions to building capacity within competition authorities and fostering a competitive economic environment.

Mirta Kapural, PhD, expressed appreciation for the RCC's support over the years, mentioning that the Croatian Competition Authority has actively participated in RCC training programs since the beginning. The RCC covers all costs for attendees, making it easier for competition authorities to engage in these valuable seminars and workshops.

Looking ahead, the RCC plans to organize a series of new programs and seven international seminars in 2025, continuing its mission to enhance competition law expertise in the region.