President of the Commission for Protection of Competition, Dr. Miloje Obradović held talks with the Head of the Negotiating Team for Accession of the Republic of Serbia to the EU, Dr. Tanja Miščević. The meeting was also attended by members of the Council, Marko Obradović and Dr. Veljko Milutinović.

Dr. Obradović introduced the guest with current activities and plans of the Commission directed toward advancing the competition policy, and particularly presented activities within the negotiation process for Chapter 8 – Competition policy. He pointed that the Commission has fully achieved its existing plans pertaining to the advancement of secondary legislation framework, in addition to extending the deadline for submission of comments and opinions to the Draft regulation on technology transfer agreements exempt from the prohibition, and Draft regulation on agreements between undertakings operating in the rail, road and inland waterways transport sector exempt from the prohibition, with the objective of enabling the most qualitative public hearing.
The Commission President also announced the possibility of establishing the regional Competition Policy Forum seated in Belgrade, supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

During the meeting, Dr. Miščević was particularly pointed out to activities related to the preparation of new competition policy regulatory framework. The working group established by the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications, and whose members are, inter alia, representatives of the Commission and professional associations from the business and civil sectors, aims that in an inclusive and transparent manner offer a new regulatory solution that will further develop mechanisms for effective operating activities of the Commission.

It is bilaterally concluded that is in the entire society’s interest for the Commission to dispose of tools enabling the effective protection of competition, thus to additionally boost the development of Serbian economy’s competitiveness, without which Serbia would not be able to derive the maximum benefits for its citizens and economy during the EU accession process.
Dr. Miščević pointed that competition policy in Serbia, and particularly operating activities of the Commission for Protection of Competition are highly valued both by the EU Negotiating Team of Serbia and Brussels administration. In this respect, she emphasized that within Negotiation Chapter 8, in the latest EC Report but also during informal contacts with the EC representatives, competition policy and operating activities of the Commission for Protection of Competition are assessed as one among activities of the Serbian administration most aligned with the EU acquis. To that effect, she strongly supported and emphasized the importance of further advancement of the Commission’s operating activities, and particularly commended the inclusiveness and transparency in preparing the new Law on Protection of Competition.