The Commission for Protection of Competition extended the procedure for investigating the violation of competition to Gigatron, Tehnomedia Center, Emmezeta and XLS

In February 2021, the Commission extended the ex officio investigation proceeding to Gigatron export-import, Tehnomedia centar, Emmezeta Srbija and XLS Belgrade. The Commission, by analyzing the prices of certain consumer electronics products, established that Tesla brand products are offered at identical or almost identical prices, which the Commission already had in mind when initiating proceedings against Comtrade Distribution.

Strategic Partnership according to the provisions of the new Serbian Law on the Use of Renewable Energy Sources

On 20 April 2021 the Parliament of the Republic of Serbia adopted the Law on the Use of Renewable Energy Sources (“the Law”). The Law comes into force on 30 April 2021.

Privatization – still an ongoing process in the Republic of Serbia

The most recent legal framework regulating the privatization process in the Republic of Serbia was adopted in 2014. Certain changes have subsequently occurred in the sense that now the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Serbia has a key role in the implementation of the process. The Ministry inter alia implements the privatization process, controls the privatization process, sells public capital expressed in shares or stakes. The Ministry also performs other tasks in accordance with the Privatization Law and relevant secondary legislation.  

How to get a temporary residence permit for foreign citizens on the basis of employment?

In order to be able to stay in the Republic of Serbia for a period longer than 90 days, it is necessary that a foreign citizen has obtained a temporary residence permit, permanent residence or visa for longer residence on the basis of employment (Visa D).

The Rulebook on detailed conditions for submitting a request for temporary residence permit electronically entered into force

On January 7, 2021, the Rulebook on detailed conditions for submitting a request for a temporary residence permit electronically entered into force. The Rulebook was adopted by the Minister of Internal Affairs pursuant to Article 41, paragraph (10) of the Law on Foreigners (“Official Gazette of RS”, No. 24/18 and 31/19), and will be applied from April 1, 2021.

The Commission for Protection of Competition has Initiated Antitrust Proceedings on the Car Sales Market in the Republic of Serbia

On 2 December 2020, the Commission has passed the Conclusion by which it has initiated ex officio proceedings against market participants Porsche SCG d.o.o. Beograd, Autokomerc  d.o.o. Beograd, Autocentar Manik – ACM Preljina, and Bros Auto d.o.o. Niš, in order to investigate the existence of restrictive agreements which limit the competition on the car sales market in the Republic of Serbia.

Amendments and Supplements to the Serbian Law on Protection of the Population from Infectious Diseases entered into force on 13 November 2020

On 13 November 2020, Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Protection of the Population from Infectious Diseases entered into force. In accordance with the new situation in the world and in the country, new terms have been introduced in the Law, such as “countries with unfavourable epidemiological situation, “personal protection against infection”, “home isolation” and “quarantine at home”.  The last three newly introduced measures also represent special measures for the protection of the population from infectious diseases. Also, COVID-19 has been added to the list of diseases that are subject to epidemiological surveillance and against which prevention and control measures are applied.

State Aid through Recapitalization of Market Participants in order to Eliminate Economic Disturbances caused by COVID-19

The Government of the Republic of Serbia has adopted a Decree on the Conditions and Criteria for Compliance of State Aid through Recapitalization of Market Participants in order to Eliminate Economic Disturbances caused by the Epidemic of Infectious Disease COVID-19 which entered into force on 24 October 2020, and will be valid until 31 December 2021.

Another infringement proceeding before the Commission for Protection of Competition in the field of consumer electronics retail

Only several days after the initiation of the infringement proceeding against Roming Electronics, Tehnomania and Comtrade Distribution, the Commission for Protection of Competition announced that it had initiated another ex-officio infringement proceeding against consumer electronics retailers SF1 Coffee, which is an importer and distributor of Nespresso and Pandora coffee machines.

Namely, the Commission reasonably assumed, by inspecting the internet sales, that the prices of Nespresso coffee machines on the market of the Republic of Serbia are identical, or almost identical, and that the company SF1 Coffee influenced the prices of products of the brand whose distributor is resold, which represents a restrictive agreement in accordance with Article 10 of the Law on Protection of Competition.