PM: Anti-monopoly policy important for economy

Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic stressed Wednesday the importance of anti-monopoly policy for building an efficient and sustainable economy. He noted that strong and independent institutions were a key step in introducing a market system and a modern market economy. PM: Anti-monopoly policy important for economy The prime minister said the government fully supported independent bodies, and the new law had expanded the authority of the Commission for Protection of Competition. At a conference on the occasion of the Competition Day, Cvetkovic said protection of competition and anti-monopoly policy were important factors for a competitive economy and their effects were felt in the wider assortment of available goods and services, as well as their price and quality. "I am convinced we are creating the prerequisites for a strong and competitive Serbian economy and I am optimistic about the years ahead," said the prime minister. According to Cvetkovic, the Commission proved its autonomy by making independent decisions to protect competition last year, and Constitutional Court rulings have upheld its decisions and boosted the institution's significance and authority. The prime minister said the government had invested considerable efforts to build a regulatory framework and passed a new law on the protection of competition, fully harmonized with EU legislation. Cvetkovic also said Serbia's recently won EU candidate status is confirmation of all the reforms conducted in the country to date and "a step that finally commits us to the European course." Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert said Serbia had taken important steps and passed almost all the needed regulations in the area of protection of competition. He said the Commission for Protection of Competition should not use only preventive measures but should also take repressive action, and pointed to the need to strengthen the courts' capacities to rule in protection of competition cases. Degert also said efforts to liberalize the economy must persist, because some companies hold a dominant position in transport, energy and telecommunications. Mirko Cvetkovic Tanjug

PM: Anti-monopoly policy important for economy

The prime minister said the government fully supported independent bodies, and the new law had expanded the authority of the Commission for Protection of Competition.

At a conference on the occasion of the Competition Day, Cvetković said protection of competition and anti-monopoly policy were important factors for a competitive economy and their effects were felt in the wider assortment of available goods and services, as well as their price and quality.

"I am convinced we are creating the prerequisites for a strong and competitive Serbian economy and I am optimistic about the years ahead," said the prime minister.

According to Cvetković, the Commission proved its autonomy by making independent decisions to protect competition last year, and Constitutional Court rulings have upheld its decisions and boosted the institution's significance and authority.

The prime minister said the government had invested considerable efforts to build a regulatory framework and passed a new law on the protection of competition, fully harmonized with EU legislation.

Cvetković also said Serbia's recently won EU candidate status is confirmation of all the reforms conducted in the country to date and "a step that finally commits us to the European course."

Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert said Serbia had taken important steps and passed almost all the needed regulations in the area of protection of competition.

He said the Commission for Protection of Competition should not use only preventive measures but should also take repressive action, and pointed to the need to strengthen the courts' capacities to rule in protection of competition cases.

Degert also said efforts to liberalize the economy must persist, because some companies hold a dominant position in transport, energy and telecommunications.