Progress in the area of protection of competition is key for Serbia’s integration into the European Union, the EU Delegation’s Head of Economy and European Integration Section Freek Janmaat said on the Competition Day.
“The EU is determined to support Serbia in the process of aligning its competition policy and practice with the acquis by providing continuous assistance,” Janmaat told a Round table on Bid Rigging and Other Competition Infringements in Public Procurement.
The 18-month EU-funded technical assistance project called “Strengthening Competition in Serbia” worth million 2.8 EUR has started in September 2012 and has been focusing on legal approximation of sector related legislation, building a more sound enforcement record, enhancing the analytical capacities of the staff of the Competition protection commission and providing a better economic rationale behind the decisions as well as improving competition culture among various stakeholders.
“Ultimate beneficiaries of effective and efficient competition enforcement will be the Serbian citizens. They will benefit from wider choice and lower prices for goods and services they purchase, by enjoying the possibility to choose the best value for their money,” Janmaat said.
He explained that in the context of accession negotiations, “competition is treated as a separate chapter which proved to be one of the most comprehensive chapters for negotiations between the EU and enlargement countries.”
Two weeks ago Serbian authorities were presented the body of EU legislation related to competition by the European Commission experts. The bilateral session of the screening for competition chapter will take place in November when the relevant Serbian authorities will present Serbian legislation in this area.
At the latest 2013-2014 Global Competitiveness Index of the World Economic Forum Serbia is ranked strikingly low, at 132nd place out of 148 economies, Janmaat said adding that “it is evident that Serbia needs to improve its performance, notably when it comes to the pillar that looks into the goods market efficiency.”
Serbia now needs to focus on effective implementation and enforcement of adopted legislation in order to facilitate the level playing field for economic operators, he said.
