Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic stated Tuesday that the Serbian government is firmly committed to combating monopoly, and assessed that the government can secure a long-term and stable growth and democracy only by supporting competition.

On the occasion of Competition Day, Cvetkovic pointed out that anti-monopoly policy is not only a fight for good market behavior in economy, but also a part of the political and social life of a country. He stressed that the government is ready to provide all possible support to the Commission for Protection of Competition.

The strengthening of competition requires the adoption of a law which Serbia has adopted in 2009, whereby European standards were achieved, Cvetkovic said, adding that Serbia passed other laws as well, such as the Law on State Aid Control, Public Procurement Law and numerous other laws in the area of trade, agriculture, infastructure, etc.

Apart from legal regulations, the strengthening of competition also requires institutions, such as the Commission for Protection of Competition, and adequate judicial bodies, which Serbia already has, Cvetkovic underscored, expressing his expectation that those institutions will keep strengthening their capacities.

The third element is the support to the work of the Commission for Protection of Competition and an anti-monopoly policy, Cvetkovic stressed, adding that the Commission is an independent body, and that the government has no intention of interfering in its work and decisions.

Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert stated that a good law on protection of competition and its implementation are crucial for Serbia's EU accession, and explained that a full implementation of legal regulations is much more important than their adoption.

The creation of adequate institutions is just as important, Degert said, adding that the Commission for Protection of Competition has to face numerous difficulties and tasks in fighting monopoly.

He announced that the EU will allocate EUR 3 million for the new project regarding direct implementation of the Law on Protection of Competition in Serbia.