New Law on Protection of Business Secrets

The National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia adopted a new Law on the Protection of Business Secrets (“Official Gazette of the RS”, No. 53/2021), which entered into force on June 5, 2021 (hereinafter: the “Law”). The Law harmonizes, among other things, the system of protection of business secrets with the relevant regulations of the European Union. As stated in the explanation of the Law, the new Law should deter competition from illegal acquisition, use and disclosure of business secrets.

All Information in one place – A new Register of administrative procedures and regulations has been formed

The Law regulates the establishment, management and administration, content, manner of use, and other issues of importance for the management of the Register of Administrative Procedures (hereinafter: the “Register”). The Register will cover all administrative procedures for citizens and business entities by January 1, 2025 at the latest. The Register provides an opportunity to obtain information on the manner of submitting the request, necessary documentation, deadlines for resolving the request, total costs, and all other necessary elements of the procedure, in a fast and clear manner. Also, the Register provides the possibility to download and electronically fill in the application form with the competent administrative body. Therefore, whether it is a matter of obtaining an excerpt from the registry book or a necessary building permit, the Register contains all the data on necessary documentation for obtaining them, which enables easier business and easier communication with the management.

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.

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.