The Commission for Protection of Competition in cooperation with the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (SCC) presented to market participants new Guidelines for the development of business compliance programs with regulations on competition protection in all major cities in Serbia.

Presentation in the Regional Chamber of Commerce of the South Banat administrative region in Novi Sad, third in a row, was held as a thematic meeting of the Parliament of the businessmen in an extended attendance related to the topic “Business compliance programs with rules on competition protection”.

Čedomir Radojčić, member of the council of the Commission for Protection of Competition and Maja Dobrić, independent advisor, presented the attendees with the rules from the area of protection of competition and Guidelines for the development of business compliance programs.

In order to assist market participants in the process of adopting a compliance compliance program, the Commission briefly describes and clarifies these “steps” in these workshops and guidelines in the adoption of such programs as well as competition rules.
The next presentation of Guidelines shall be held on 15 December in Kragujevac, in the Regional Chamber of Commerce of the Šumadijski and Pomoravski administrative region.

Commission for the protection of competition initiated the procedure of examination of competition infringements, ex officio, in order to determine the existence of abuse of a dominant position, in the sense of Article 16 of the Law on the Protection of Competition against the company Glovoapp Tecchnology doo Beograd (Glovo) and carried out dawn raids in its premises.

During the analysis of the conditions of competition in the field of digital platforms for mediating the sale and delivery of mainly restaurant food and other products, the Commission observed contractual provisions in the contracts concluded by Glovo with its partners, which could result in the exclusion or difficulty of the expansion of other competitive platforms, as well as provisions that may result in discrimination of partners through the application of unequal business conditions, all of which constitutes an abuse of a dominant position.

Namely, certain contracts and general conditions of business with partners contain a prescribed fee that the partner is obliged to pay if it enters into similar partnerships with other platforms, i.e. high amounts are offered in the form of investment for marketing, with the obligation to return the amount if cooperation with another platform is established.

The application of unequal business conditions to the same agreements with different market participants is primarily reflected in the form of different commissions to different partners, and depending on whether they cooperate only with Glovo or with competing platforms.

Including such exclusivity clauses in contracts with partners or various forms of incentives or pressures to maintain exclusivity, could exclude competitors from the market or reduce their ability to compete, which could ultimately lead to higher prices, less choice and lower quality offers, all to the detriment of consumers.

After taking over the Donesi platform in 2021, the company Glovo significantly expanded its business network and drastically increased its market share and gained a dominant position, which also changed the structure of this market. As such, it has a special responsibility in relation to the actions it undertakes in the market.

The Commission hereby invites all persons who have data, documents or other relevant information that can contribute to establishing the factual situation in this procedure to submit them to the address of the Commission for the Protection of Competition, 25/IV Savska Street, Belgrade.

The Commission for Protection of Competition initiated ex officio proceedings against the company ANANAS E-COMMERCE doo Beograd, for the purpose of investigating the concentration which was carried out even though it was not approved in accordance with the Law on Protection of Competition, and which had, according to the reasonable assumption, resulted from the acquisition of control by company ANANAS E-COMMERCE over the company VEBSPOT DOOEL Skopje.

In the investigation proceedings, the Commission will evaluate the criteria prescribed by the Law (Art. 19 of the Law on Protection of Competition) which determine the permissibility of a concentration, and in particular, the circumstance that the concentration under review had been implemented, but not notified, which was the obligation of market participants. The law stipulates that concentrations of market participants are allowed, unless they would significantly restrict, distort or prevent competition on the market of the Republic of Serbia, and especially if that restriction, distortion or prevention would be the result of creation or strengthening of a dominant position.

The Commission will determine the important facts, evidence and other elements on which it will base its decision regarding the possible determination of a measure of protection of competition, that is, a measure of deconcentration.

By way of conclusion on initiation of the proceedings, all persons who possess data, documents or other relevant information which may contribute to the establishment of the correct facts in this case are invited to submit them without delay to the Commission for Protection of Competition at the address 25/IV Savska Street, Belgrade.

CPC Commission for the protection of competition in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia (PKS) held the third presentation of the Guidelines for the development of a program of business compliance with regulations on the protection of competition in Niš.

In order to help market participants in the process of adopting a compliance program, the Commission, through these workshops and guidelines, briefly describes and explains certain “steps” in adopting such programs as well as competition protection rules.

The next workshop will be held on November 15 at the Regional Chamber of Commerce of the South Bačka administrative district in Novi Sad.

The Commission for Protection of Competition initiated ex officio proceedings against the company Dobergard DOO Beograd, for the purpose of investigating the concentration which was carried out even though it was not approved in accordance with the Law on Protection of Competition, and which, according to the reasonable assumption, resulted from the acquisition of control by company Dobergard over the company Sparta Security DOO and over the company Protecta Group DOO Beograd.

In the investigation proceedings, the Commission will evaluate the criteria prescribed by the Law (Art. 19 of the Law on Protection of Competition) which determine the permissibility of a concentration, and in particular, the circumstance that the concentrations under review had been implemented, but not notified, which was the obligation of market participants. The law stipulates that concentrations of market participants are allowed, unless they would significantly restrict, distort or prevent competition on the market of the Republic of Serbia, and especially if that restriction, distortion or prevention would be the result of creation or strengthening of a dominant position.

The Commission will determine the important facts, evidence and other elements on which it will base its decision regarding the possible determination of a measure of protection of competition, that is, a measure of deconcentration.

By way of conclusions on initiation of the proceedings, all persons who possess data, documents or other relevant information which can contribute to the establishment of the correct facts in these proceedings are invited to submit them without delay to the Commission for Protection of Competition at the address 25/IV Savska Street, Belgrade.