Legislative frame is one of key elements of business environment, and in that sense, harmonization of regulations with EU Equis shall contribute to improvement of business and investment atmosphere, leading to increase of competitivness and full integration of Serbian economy into EU community market.

Proceeding from assessments and recommendations expressed in EC Report on the Republic of Serbia advancement in the European Integrations Process and UNCTAD Report on the state of competition protection in Serbia, as well as our own observations and experience that particular existing legal solutions have an adverse effect on the actions of the Commission and legal certainty, Commission initiated work on amendments and modifications to the Law.

Initiated amendments and modifications should contribute both to the strengthening of Commission as an institution and its efficiency in acting, as well as to a higher degree of legal certainty and predictability for undertakings.

The following items should be singled out, being of particular importance:

- different concept of dominant position in relevant market, based on market power of undertaking, with clear and transparent criteria, implying deleting currently existing assumption of dominant position in case of 40% or more of market power on defined relevant market, whereas burden of proof is exclusively on Commission (Article 1 of working proposal on amendments and modifications to the Law);

- current provision in Article 58 relating to interruption of procedure is harmonized with rules of a so called commitment decision, by which intend and aim of protection of competition is accomplished, even without determination of a measure for protection of competition (Article 10 of working proposal on amendments and modifications to the Law);

- With regard to statute of limitation period, it has been proposed that a ”division” of the statute of limitation be made, to the period of establishment of infringement and determination of a measure for protection of competition on one hand, and the period for procedure of enforcement of a measure for protection of competition, on the other. In addition, an institute of interruption of statute of limitation period on the grounds of action taken by the authority i.e. Commission has been introduced (Article 14 of the working proposal of amendments and modifications to the Law).

- It has been proposed to delete the provision in paragraph 5, Article 57 of the Law, stipulating that the interest ”in case of decrese in the amount thereof or annulment of administrative measure, shall be born by the Commission.” Such definition represented a serious and dangerous precedent compared to legislation of EU member states and others. Namely, proceeds from the measure are paid to the Republic of Serbia budget, which pays back that amount i.e. ”principal”, and the Commission, which does not utilaze nor disposes with the said proceeds, and has no influnce whatsoever on the period of possible return of funds, is obliged to pay the interest. Further aggrevating factor is that, pursuant to the Law, Commission is financed from its own income, but the funds which have not been utilized in current year, are tranferred to the budget at the end of the year, meaning that the Commission commences each new year without any financial means, and as a consequence, Commission cannot execute its legal obligation to pay the interest in case of such obligation arising in the mentioned period (Articles 3 and 9 of the working proposal of the amendments and modifications to the Law).

Considering the significance of proposed amendments and modifications aimed at prevention of adverse effects to the activities of authority and ensuring conditions for strengthening of legal certainty of undertakings, it has been suggested to the Ministry that the Law should be passed as urgent matter.

It should be pointed out that the Minister in charge for external and internal trade and telecommunications, set up a Work Group in an exeptionaly short period upon receipt of relevant Initiative, to prepare amendments and modifications to the Law. By the decision of the Minister, the Work Group also involved the representatives of CPC.

Work Group prepared working version of the draft amendments and modifications to the Law which is being published. It should be noted that this version represents Draft text to be discussed at public debate during May.

On October 11 and 12, 2012 International Conference was held in Beograd presenting expert analysis of the competition law and policy in Serbia and its results (Peer Review Report). Relevant analysis was made as a result of cooperation between Commission for Protection of Competition and expert team of UN Conference on Trade and Development – UNCTAD.

Report acknowledged enhancement achieved in the field of competition protection from the date of its introduction upto the present date, both as regards application of competition rules, and strenghtening of administrative and institutional capacities of the Commission for Protection of Competition.

It was assessed that Serbia succeeded in introducing modern system  of competition protection, through establishment of an independent institution and adoption and enforcement of relevant legislative frame.

Report includes a series of recommendations, comments and suggestions aimed at further improvement of legislative frame, strenghtening of capacities and efficient application of Law and supporting sub-legal acts.

Among others, Conference was attended by Mr.Petko Draganov, Deputy to Secretary General, UNCTAD, Mr.Hassan Qaqaya, Head of Competition and Consumer Policies Branch, UNCTAD, Prof. William Kovacic, George Washington University, Prof. Vincent Martenet, President of the Commission for Protection of Competition of Switzerland, representatives from European Commission (DG COMP), competition authorities from Sweden, Hungary, Czeck Republic, Russian Federation, Romania, Bulgaria, countries from the region, as well as a large number of experts in the field of competition protection from the country and abroad.

Several lestures were given at the Conference, having as a topic cooperation of government bodies in joint struggle against violation of competition. Also, a round table was organised on the issues concerning importance of raising of awareness on competition protection and acquiring and transferring the knowledge to younger competition authorities.

By the ruling of Administrative Court dated  July 7, 2011, action lodged by the Veterinary Chamber of Serbia against decision of the Commission for Protection of Competition, was rejected.

Pursuant to the decision of the Commission, a remedy as a measure for protection of competition was imposed to  Veterinary Chamber of Serbia in the form of obligation for payment of funds in the amount of 7% of total annual  turnover realized in 2007, amounting to 1.243.690,00 dinars, because it concluded and effected  restrictive agreement based on decision-making by the Management Board of Veterinary Chamber of Serbia of March 21,2008 under the name ”price list of minimum prices for veterinary services”.

This is already a second decision of the Commission for Protection of Competition (previous one:AD Milk Industry and Dairies ”Imlek” and AD ”Mlekara” from Subotica – both owned by Danube Food Group B.V.) imposing a remedy in the form of obligation for payment of funds on the grounds of established infringement of competition, confirmed by the ruling of Administrative Court.

Commission shall, in the forthcoming period, continue to protect competition in the market of the Republic of Serbia aimed at economic progress, particularly protection of consumers, as well as prevention of all acts or actions of market participants which, as their aim or consequence have significant restriction, distortion or prevention of competition.

Council of the Commission for Protection of Competition

Vesna Jankovic, President of the Commission