Roundtable Competition and Consumers - Challenges for the Republic of Serbia in the EU accession process

Center for European Integration of Belgrade Open School and the Office for European Integration of the Republic of Serbia, in cooperation with the municipality Mediana (Nis), organized a round table „Competition and Consumers - Challenges for the Republic of Serbia in the EU accession process“, in building a business Mediana center city municipality.

At the roundtable, participants were: Ivan Knezevic from the European Movement in Serbia, Ljiljana Stankovic from the Ministry of internal and external trade  and telecommunications, and Vladimir Međakfrom the  Office for European Integration of the Republic of Serbia.

"All researchs about  the attitudes of the citizens of Serbia joining the European Union, show that citizens are not adequately informed about the importance of European standards at the local level,'' said Ivan Knezevic from the European Movement in Serbia. Knezevic said that preparation for the entry of Serbia into the EU have been ongoing for decades, but the public is not enough talking whit arguments about the advantages and challenges of Serbia's membership in the EU. He added that EU membership brings many benefits to citizens, but also the challenges that we need to know and for which we must be prepare .

''In conditions of the developed system of consumer protection, consumers are becoming more informed and aware of their rights and are able to achieve them, and thus make rational choices and create more pressure on retailers to compete more strongly in the market and exactly by what that presents the value of consumers,'' said Ljiljana Stankovic from the Ministry of internal and external trade and telecommunications. She stressed that a comprehensive law on consumer protection chief prerequisite for strengthening the protection of the rights and interests of consumers, but it is necessary and its effective implementation. '' Some traders may impair its business operation and reputation of responsible businesses, create the basis for the appearance of dishonesty, and thus disabling that consumers make reliable and reasonable choice - and this is just one way to start the competition, innovation and economic growth'' she said Stankovic.

''Protection of Competition is a mechanism of surveillance and protection of the free market, which is used by one state, under conditions of market economy,'' said Vladimir Međak from the Office for European Integration of the Republic of Serbia, adding that the goal is not to control the market, but participants in the protection of freedom it, which may be threatened by powerful companies.

The roundtable was implemented within the final phase of the project Strengthening Capacity of Serbian Administration for EU Accession, realized by Belgrade Open School and the Office for European Integration of the Republic of Serbia. The project is financially supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway.