The new law on competition meets the standards of the EU. It will ensure better functioning of the Moldovan economy by promoting local competition, in accordance with the requirements of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area between Moldova and the EU, said the head of the Political and Economic Section of the EU Delegation to Moldova Wicher Slagter, IPN reports.
In a press club meeting, he said that Moldova still witnesses the problem of lack of competition at institutions controlled by the state, while the monopolist practices negatively affect the consumers. The initialing of the Association Agreement and the creation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area will require competition policies that Chisinau will have to implement.
Wicher Slagter underlined that a tangible benefit of the provisions of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement is the approval of a competition law and of the law on state aid and the creation of the Competition Council. The EU supported Moldova in strengthening the competition policies, while the competition law is centered on the best European practices.
The head of the Competition Council Viorica Carare said that when the competition law starts to be implemented, an absolutely new body will appear in Moldova – the Competition Council. It will have new powers for ensuring competition. The competition environment is very important in a society and a number of steps must be taken to ensure loyal competition. The first step that is absolutely necessary is to approve the European legislation, with over 20 regulations. The second step, also very important, is to create the Competition Council. “The normative framework is very important, but society’s contribution to promoting loyal competition is more important,” said Viorica Carare.
The new competition law was adopted within the twining project “Support to implementing and respecting the policy on competition and state aid”. The document was drafted with the participation of experts from the EU member states - Romania, Latvia and Austria - and specialists of the Competition Council of Moldova.
