Negotiations on Chapter 8 – Competition have officially started, a managing director of the Directorate for Internal Market and Competition in the Ministry of Economy, Ms Biljana Jakić, told in an interview for Dnevne Novine daily.
-Here are the highlights of the interview with Ms Jakić-
What’s the main thing about the recently opened Chapter 8 – Competition? What will be negotiated with the EU?
Jakić: The Chapter – Competition is very complex and covers two areas: protection of competition in the market and state aid control. The protection of competition implies three basic aspects: prohibition of violation of a dominant position on the market, prohibition of concluding agreements, which prevent, restrict or violate free competition on the market and assessment of the level of availability of market participants.
This chapter negotiates the harmonization of national legislation with the legislation of the European Union and its effective implementation, the establishment of an adequate institutional framework and the improvement of administrative capacity.
When will the government start negotiations? How long will they last?
Jakic: Negotiations are underway, and their dynamics depend not only on Montenegro, but also on the European Commission.
How will the negotiations on that chapter help the Montenegrin economy and the citizens as well?
Jakić: Respecting the free competition in the market is a prerequisite for providing a business environment in which all market participants will operate under equal conditions, which further contributes to creating an economically favorable environment for investment and investment security.
The inflow of new investments should contribute to the balanced development of the state, reduction in the unemployment rate and better standards of living for all citizens.
How is the European competitive market regulated? What are the EU competition requirements for Montenegro?
Jakić: At the level of the EU, competition policy is regulated by the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, a series of regulations and directives in the field of protection of competition and state aid, as well as the national legislation of the member states.
The conditions of the EU regarding the competition policy require from Montenegro to show readiness to identify all possible violations of competition rules and state aid, along with the strengthening of capacities of the Agency for the Protection of Competition, as an independent operational body in this area.
Which EU country has the best regulated competitive market, whose model Montenegro should follow?
Jakić: In our opinion, we cannot talk about the best-regulated market when it comes to the competition area in the EU, given the specifics of each of the markets of the EU member states and the common market of the EU as a whole. As for Montenegro, it is necessary to observe and establish a model best applicable to Montenegro.
Why is Competition the most demanding negotiation chapter?
Jakić: Equal market competition, i.e. the protection of free competition on the market, is one of the basic EU principles, which is why the EU insists on consistent compliance with competition rules.
