PM: Govt. against monopolies, for competition

The Serbian government is devoted to fighting monopolies and supporting competition because it is the only way to ensure long-term stable growth and democracy. This is according to Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic who spoke in Belgrade on Tuesday. PM: Govt. against monopolies, for competition "Problems in transition also arise from [the fact] that by abolishing privileges and monopolies, you gain powerful enemies, whether individuals or interest groups who lose out in that process," said Cvetkovic at a conference on protecting competition. The prime minister underlined that the government was ready to support the Commission for the Protection of Competition "in a way that does not affect its independence," and added that the commission was "an independent body in whose work the government will not become involved and will not influence its decisions." Vincent Degert, the head of the European Union Delegation in Serbia, said that this year the EU would support the application of the Competition Protection Law in Serbia, which he said was one of the key elements for joining the EU, with EUR3 million of pre-accession funds. Mirko Cvetkovic (Beta)

PM: Govt. against monopolies, for competition

"Problems in transition also arise from [the fact] that by abolishing privileges and monopolies, you gain powerful enemies, whether individuals or interest groups who lose out in that process," said Cvetković at a conference on protecting competition.

The prime minister underlined that the government was ready to support the Commission for the Protection of Competition "in a way that does not affect its independence," and added that the commission was "an independent body in whose work the government will not become involved and will not influence its decisions."

Vincent Degert, the head of the European Union Delegation in Serbia, said that this year the EU would support the application of the Competition Protection Law in Serbia, which he said was one of the key elements for joining the EU, with EUR3 million of pre-accession funds.