The key achievements of the Competition Protection Agency in 2024 focus on effectively conducting investigations into practices that disrupt or limit free market competition, including identifying prohibited agreements, abuse of dominant positions and controlling mergers and acquisitions.
Nebojša Jovović, the Director of the Agency, shared with RTCG that the Agency launched proceedings against several companies found to be violating competition protection regulations.
Jovović emphasized the importance of legislation and competition protection policies in improving economic efficiency and fairness. He noted that this includes the prohibition of anti-competitive practices such as prohibited agreements, abuse of dominant market positions, and mergers or concentrations that could reduce or limit competition. Additionally, opening markets and creating opportunities for free market entry are vital for the sustainable economic development of the country.
According to Jovović, the past year can be considered one of the Agency’s most successful in terms of results.
“The Agency has confirmed its commitment to fostering a competitive market environment in order to protect the interests of consumers. Throughout 2024, the Agency achieved significant results that reflect its dedication to applying regulations governing this area, including competition law and state aid control,” said Jovović.
The key achievements last year primarily focused on effectively conducting investigations into practices that disrupt or limit free market competition, such as identifying prohibited agreements, abuse of dominant positions, and controlling concentrations in various sectors.
“As a result, the Agency initiated proceedings against several companies found to be in violation of competition protection regulations, which attracted public attention and contributed to raising awareness of the importance of this field, as well as promoting a more transparent and competitive market in Montenegro,” Jovović stated.
He particularly highlighted the results achieved in the area of state aid control.
“The Agency successfully concluded the most complex cases in both ex-ante and ex-post procedures, with a particular focus on cases recognized as final benchmarks for closing negotiating Chapter 8 – Competition. By applying the legal framework and regulations in this area, as well as those of the EU, we demonstrated that Montenegro is prepared to address the challenges it faces and is ready for EU membership. The internal market, among other things, relies on these principles, which clearly establish the rules that must be followed,” Jovović explained.
He concluded by stating that this year, the Agency will focus on addressing new challenges in increasingly complex markets, monitoring the markets to identify and eliminate harmful consequences from participants violating regulations.
“We will work on strengthening the legal framework to ensure alignment with EU standards and best practices, raising awareness about the importance of competition law and state aid. We plan to continue our successful cooperation with both domestic and international partners, fulfill the final benchmarks for closing Chapter 8 – Competition, and ultimately eliminate all barriers to market entry and exit, ensuring market efficiency,” concluded Jovović.
