During today’s meeting with President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Suma Chakrabarti, President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić supported the idea of the establishment of the Western Balkans Forum of Competition Authorities, based in Belgrade, Serbia.

The Forum is an initiative of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, aimed at intensifying cooperation between competition authorities from the Western Balkan region, principally focused on developing and coordinating processes at the senior executive level, in the context of exchange of knowledge and experiences. The principal body in charge of these activities would the Commission for Protection of Competition of the Republic of Serbia, while the national competition authorities from Slovenia, Croatia, BiH, Montenegro, Albania, and North Macedonia would be the Forum members.

- The fact that the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, has supported this initiative is of paramount importance for our future activities relating to this project, said on the occasion Dr Miloje Obradović, President of the Commission for Protection of Competition, adding that the Forum is also supported by the European Commission.

In his view, intensifying cooperation through this initiative will improve regional cooperation and relations, but also further enhance efficiency in securing a level playing field on markets across the Western Balkans.

The establishment of the Forum was also a topic of the last week’s conference panel discussions, organized by the Commission to mark the Competition Day, as well as of a meeting between the heads of national competition authorities from the region and EBRD representatives. Moreover, the event served as a platform for all heads of national competition authorities from the Western Balkan region to meet for the first time in one place and discuss issues of common concern.

The Commission for Protection of Competition, marking the annual Serbian Competition Day, organized the International Conference titled “Forward Agenda for Competition Policy”.

The event was opened by keynote addresses given by Siniša Mali, Minister of Finance, Snežana B. Petrović, President of the Committee on the Economy, Regional Development, Trade, Tourism and Energy of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Sem Fabrizi, Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, and Dr Miloje Obradović, host of the Conference and President of the Commission for Protection of Competition.

In addition to Branko Ružić, Minister of State Administration and Local-Self Government, the ceremony marking the national Competition Day was also attended by senior representatives of all independent bodies and other state authorities of the Republic of Serbia, as well as a number of representatives of the diplomatic corps, academia and professional community, and undertakings operating on the market of the Republic of Serbia.

The team of the Commission for Protection of Competition of the Republic of Serbia, as well as all conference participants were also welcomed in a special video message from Margarethe Vestager, European Commissioner for Competition. She underscored that all competition authorities share an important privilege: that their work is essential for their citizens.

- If we are successful in our job of bringing about effective competition on the market, our citizens will have a better life. As competition authorities, we can only fulfill our role when we are ready to involve all key stakeholders, including regulatory bodies, national courts, businesses, so that they can better understand what we do and why we do it, said Vestager.

The Commissioner also underlined that the European Commission, and in particular DG COMP, will continue to constantly work with governments and competition authorities in the region, also to prepare for EU membership, and that good initiatives are those that bring together all regional actors in an inclusive format.

The fact that the Serbian Commission was identified by the European Commission, but also EU Parliament, as one of the most efficient independent authorities was commented on by President Obradović, arguing that the teamwork values fostered in the CPC are the key to success, in addition to good relations established with all national institutions and the support received from the state.

- We, at the Commission for Protection of Competition of the Republic of Serbia, do not perceive our institutional independence as a privilege enabling us not to communicate and co-operate with all those who can prove to be our valuable partners in an important task of improving the competition policy in our country – emphasized President Obradović, adding that the Commission’s team is aware that in its work must, foremost, ensure the legality and public interest.

Two panel sessions, “Regional Undertakings and Competition Policy” and “Commitment Decisions and Deterrence of Antitrust Infringements”, are held during the conference.

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The Commission for Protection of Competition has opened an antitrust investigation procedure ex officio on March 25, 2019, against PE Novi Autoprevoz from Vrnjačka Banja.

During the procedure, the Commission will investigate whether the company, as an operator of the only bus terminus in Vrnjačka Banja, has abused its dominance by charging various prices for bus services to passengers and bus carriers.

All persons in possession of valid data, documents or other relevant information that could contribute to the accurate fact-finding in this proceeding are invited to submit said evidence to the following address: Commission for Protection of Competition, 25/IV Savska St., Belgrade.

The Commission for Protection of Competition hereby publishes the Notice of filing commitment proposals, pursuant to Article 58 of the Law on Protection of Competition, which PUC “Gradska toplana” Niš is voluntarily willing to undertake in order to remove potential infringements of competition, with a call to all interested parties to submit observations, positions and opinions relevant to the proposed commitments in written form.