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European Commission supports draft law on competition protection
Belgrade/Brussels,
6 February 2009
Serbian Minister of Trade and Services Slobodan Milosavljevic talked today in Brussels with European Commission officials about legislation and institutional reform in the area of consumer protection and competition.
Speaking to the press Milosavljevic said that EU Commissioner for Consumer Affairs Meglena Kuneva supported the draft law on competition protection which the Serbian government should adopt by the end of February and parliament by the end of March.
He said that Kuneva commented that the law will allow for longer deadlines for companies to register complaints at the decisions of the Committee for Competition Protection, adding that it was suggested that the limit for illegal competition should be increased because the Serbian economy is expected to grow fast.
He said that Kuneva agreed to visit Serbia this year to organise a roundtable discussion about EU experiences regarding consumer and competition protection.
The Minister said that Kuneva, who was Bulgaria’s chief negotiator during the country’s EU accession process, pledged that Bulgarian ministries will share their experiences with Serbian authorities.
Milosavljevic stressed that she pointed out that Sofia is in favour of the urgent unblocking of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the EU and Serbia and for negotiations concerning candidate status to start.
He said that EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn’s visit to Belgrade next week will bring a certain degree of optimism to Serbia’s EU integration process.
He said that he was told by European Commission officials that Rehn wishes to hold talks with Serbian parliament whips to get reassurances that they will make every effort to accelerate the process of passing laws related to EU integration.
He stressed that Serbia must do everything in its power to accelerate the EU accession process by passing the necessary legislation.
Milosavljevic also visited Serbia’s stand at the tourism fair in Brussels and said that Serbia has without doubt emerged as a new tourist destination which is proved by the interest visitors to the fair are showing in Serbia’s stand, adding that tourism can become Serbia’s main source of funds necessary for financing the trade deficit and more work will be done to use the tourism potential of the Danube River.
He said that Kuneva commented that the law will allow for longer deadlines for companies to register complaints at the decisions of the Committee for Competition Protection, adding that it was suggested that the limit for illegal competition should be increased because the Serbian economy is expected to grow fast.
He said that Kuneva agreed to visit Serbia this year to organise a roundtable discussion about EU experiences regarding consumer and competition protection.
The Minister said that Kuneva, who was Bulgaria’s chief negotiator during the country’s EU accession process, pledged that Bulgarian ministries will share their experiences with Serbian authorities.
Milosavljevic stressed that she pointed out that Sofia is in favour of the urgent unblocking of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the EU and Serbia and for negotiations concerning candidate status to start.
He said that EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn’s visit to Belgrade next week will bring a certain degree of optimism to Serbia’s EU integration process.
He said that he was told by European Commission officials that Rehn wishes to hold talks with Serbian parliament whips to get reassurances that they will make every effort to accelerate the process of passing laws related to EU integration.
He stressed that Serbia must do everything in its power to accelerate the EU accession process by passing the necessary legislation.
Milosavljevic also visited Serbia’s stand at the tourism fair in Brussels and said that Serbia has without doubt emerged as a new tourist destination which is proved by the interest visitors to the fair are showing in Serbia’s stand, adding that tourism can become Serbia’s main source of funds necessary for financing the trade deficit and more work will be done to use the tourism potential of the Danube River.
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