The Commission for Protection of Competition of the Republic of Serbia has the administrative capacity, that is, qualitative experts to handle investigations on alleged infringements. The CPC’s investigations of large private and public companies have further contributed to improving its credibility and public image, says the 2019 EC Progress Report on Serbia, presented today at the Brussels headquarters of the European Commission.

In the Annual report covering the period from January 2018 to February 2019, it is mentioned that the Commission is the main institution responsible for implementing the legal framework governing competition, which is in line with all relevant provisions of the SAA and the acquis. The Report notes the progress in the number of detected cases of anticompetitive behaviors, increased number of sector inquiries and continued competition advocacy activities. However, the Report references the need for intensified consultations with the Commission on all draft laws concerning competition.

The activities of the Commission for Protection of Competition are reviewed in the said document under Negotiation Chapter 8: Competition policy.

The Commission for Protection of Competition of the Republic of Serbia has joined the group of authorities as founding members of the International Competition Network’s Framework for Competition Agency Procedures, aimed at fostering fair, informed and non-discriminatory procedures in competition law enforcement around the world and increased transparency.

New protocols of the International Competition Network agreed in early April this year are designed to streamline the enforcement procedures, while safeguarding procedural fairness and non-discriminatory approach of member countries towards ensuring that local competition rules afford national companies no less favorable treatment than the one granted to companies from other jurisdictions in like circumstances. The protocols are designed so as to ensure that respective competition authorities cannot rig outcomes in favor of privileged competitors, and in that manner put pressures on the economies of other countries.

The motive of the Commission to be among the founder members of new protocols of the International Competition Network was to send a clear message to all undertakings operating or planning to operate in the territory of the Republic of Serbia that this institution will continue to work in full respect of the principles of transparency and legal certainty of their investments, as regards the implementation of competition policy.

The Commission for Protection of Competition has published a video clip on its YouTube channel, produced in order to conveniently inform undertakings on their rights and obligations in dawn raids conducted as part of antitrust investigations.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Law on Protection of Competition, dawn raids are conducted by authorized officials of the Commission.

In an effort to bring the dawn raid procedure closer to all undertakings in the Republic of Serbia, the Commission has produced this video material under the project “Increasing economic growth through support to the promotion of competition policy”, supported by the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Norway in Belgrade.