Conference on UTEs and the defence of competition

IE Center for Transport Economics & Infrastructure Management organized a conference on UTEs (Uniones Temporales de Empresas; Temporarily business consortium) and the defence of competition held at IE University campus.

In the context of the UTEs, the temporary associations of firms raise a controversy regarding their effects on society. In private goods and services markets, it may arise opportunities that encourage the collaboration of more than one company. On the other hand, Public Administrations may also see the need for ad hoc collaboration or cooperation from various companies for the fulfilment of their purposes. Everything can be seen as financial, economic and/or public order advantages. However, there is also the possibility that these associations may restrict competition among companies. The assessment of whether these positive effects are clearly superior to an eventual restriction of competition or not, it is not a simple matter.

The event was presented by the chairman of the center, Mr Julio Gómez-Pomar and it counted with first-level speakers who explained the processes and contexts in which a UTE occurs. Among them, Ms Henar González Durántez, Partner of Herbert Smith Freehill and Mr Javier Guillén Caramés, Professor of Administrative Law, Consultant, Herbert Smith Freehills; Mr Oswaldo García-Hernán Ordóñez, Vocal Asesor CNMC, Mr Guillermo Martínez de Simón, Secretary-General of ADIF and Ms Isabel Pardo de Vera, president of ADIF who concluded the act.