6 March 2023, Budapest – The Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH) hosted the delegation of the Montenegrin competition authority in Budapest. Csaba Balázs Rigó, President of the GVH and Dragan Damjanović, President of the Council of the Agency for Protection of Competition consulted on numerous current issues.
On the discussion held at the headquarter of the GVH, they have touched upon the possibilities of a bilateral cooperation, expert support on complex competition cases provided by the Hungarian counterpart, knowledge sharing on the digitalisation of administrative proceeding, the means available to the competition authorities to counter the inflation, and the harmonisation of the rules of competition law of the Western-Balkan countries concerning their accession to the EU. The latter is with utmost importance to the Montenegrin competition authority since its President visiting to Hungary leads the governmental working group of the negotiating chapter on competition.
„Bilateral cooperation with our European partners are on top of agenda of APC and we are looking forward to use Hungarian experience in resolving complex cases in competition. We are happy to hear that common goal for both sides is Montenegro fullfillment of closing benchmarks in preacession negotiation process in chapter 8 – Competition” – said Dragan Damjanović, President of the Agency for Protection of Competition.
The Hungarian Competition Authority and the Montenegrin Agency for Protection of Competition has already maintained close relations, as the latter is a beneficiary of the Regional Centre for Competition in Budapest jointly operated by the GVH and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The Centre has been providing support in the field of competition law and competition policy since 2005, building on the two organisations professional background, mainly to competition authorities in Eastarn, South-Eastern-, and Central European countries. Hungary thus plays a leading role in the region in terms of participation in the development of transition economies and technical assistance.
It is in the interest of Hungary that all the Western-Balkan countries join to the European Union as soon as possible. On behalf of us, we would like to give all the support to our friends from Montenegro, to be able to harmonize their competition rules with the rule of law of the European Union. Furthermore, we would like to pass on our experience in the application of the law. – phrased the President of the GVH, Rigó Csaba Balázs.
In 2008 Montenegro filed its application for EU membership and was granted candidate status in December 2010. In June 2012, the EU and Montenegro started their accession negotiations.
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