On the occasion of International Competition Day (5 December), the Competition Authority, with the aim of promoting a culture of competition within Higher Education Institutions, invites all interested parties to participate in the open essay competition entitled “International Competition Day”: “The Role of the Competition Authority in Ensuring Free and Effective Competition in the Market – Practical Cases from European and National Competition Law.”
This competition aims to encourage awareness and engagement among students of law, economics, and technological sciences regarding the importance of competition in the market and its impact on economic development, improvement of service quality, and consumer protection.
Who Can Participate?
The essay competition is open to:
- Albanian students enrolled in bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral programs at public and private higher education institutions in Albania;
- Albanian students enrolled in bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral programs at public and private higher education institutions abroad; and
- Graduates with an interest in the field of competition.
Suggested Topics (Non-Exhaustive)
Economics
- Industrial economics, market structures, and competition;
- Prohibited agreements;
- Abuse of a dominant position;
- Merger control;
- Economic and econometric analysis in the enforcement of competition law;
- Competition between small enterprises and large companies in the domestic market;
- Competition in regulated sectors such as telecommunications, energy, banking, and transport;
- Competition and benefits for Albanian consumers.
Law
- EU competition policies and their application in Albania;
- Harmonization of the competition legal framework with new EU regulations;
- Case law of the CJEU and Albanian courts on competition law;
- Enforcement of competition law in Albania: challenges between legal norms and administrative practice;
- Judicial interpretation of competition concepts in Albania: from basic notions to digital market challenges.
Information Technology: Digital Markets, Artificial Intelligence, and Algorithms
- Competition and the digital market;
- Challenges and opportunities posed by artificial intelligence for competition law in Albania;
- The impact of AI systems on market structure, firm behavior, and competition protection;
- Application of EU competition policies in the age of artificial intelligence: the Albanian perspective;
- Competition between small enterprises and digital giants: is there room for equality in the algorithmic era?;
- Can algorithms facilitate price coordination without formal agreements? How can this challenge be addressed?
Awards
Essays selected by the Scientific Committee will be published on the official website of the Competition Authority, and the authors will receive certificates of participation.
For the three best essays in the fields of economics, law, and information technology, the Competition Authority will offer a two-month educational internship at the Competition Authority.
The deadline for submitting documents is November 20, 2025.
Competition Rules
- The essay must be original, with a length of 2500-3000 words, not including references.
- Language used: Albanian and English
- Format: Font Times New Roman, 12 pt, spacing 1.5
- Submission: Electronically to the Competition Authority’s email address: competition@caa.gov.al
- Deadline for submission: [November 20, 2025]
Evaluation of Essays
The evaluation of the essays will be carried out by a jury composed of representatives of:
- The Competition Authority;
- Lecturers from public and non-public universities specialized in competition law and policy; and
- Experts in the fields of economics, law and information technology.
Evaluation criteria:
- Clarity and argumentation;
- Originality and creativity;
- Relevance to the Albanian context;
- Reference and academic correctness.
- Winners Announcement Ceremony
Award Ceremony
- Date: [International Competition Day – 5 December 2025]
- Place: UT Faculty of Law premises
