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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Serbia granted €2 million to boost competition

Belgrade, 20 March 2008

Project leader of the European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR) for assistance to the Serbian Commission for competition protection Andrej Plahutnik stated today that the EU approved €2 million for a project to increase competition in the Serbian economy from 2008 to 2010.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Media Centre, Plahutnik said that this is the largest project so far in the area of competition in Serbia which should contribute to strengthening the institutional capacities of the Commission for competition protection, boosting its independence from other institutions, harmonisation of regulations on competition with European regulations, increasing awareness of the importance of competition and its promotion.

Serbian Assistant Minister of Trade and Services Dragan Penezic said that expert analysis showed that the reason for the partial rise in prices of basic foodstuffs on the Serbian market is the lack of competition and voiced hope that EAR's project will help to change the situation.

President of the Commission for competition protection Dijana Markovic-Bajalovic said that this project has come at the right time, just before the second anniversary of the Commission, which was founded in April 2006.

Head of the European Commission Delegation to Serbia Josep Lloveras said that increased competition in Serbia will lead to a wider range of products better in quality, lower in price, and greater competitiveness in the Serbian economy, which is the real purpose of European integration.

Participants in the project will be the German foundation for international legal cooperation (IRZ), the German organisation for technical cooperation (GTZ) and company Colja, Rojs & Partners from Slovenia.