"The Competition Protection Commission is convinced of the good interaction and coordination with the regular government. Due to the fact that no measures have been taken so far, the conclusions and recommendations from the interim sectoral analysis of the food market, as well as those of fuels and medicines, will be sent again to the competent bodies of the executive branch for taking administrative and regulatory measures to improve the competitive environment."
This was stated by the Chairman of the Competition Protection Commission, Assoc. Prof. Rosen Karadimov, during a meeting of the Public Council to the Competition Protection Commission, which assists the antimonopoly body in formulating policies and proposals for a more competitive, effective, fair and transparent market environment.
The Public Council includes representatives of nationally recognized employer organizations – The Association of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria, as well as the two national unions - the Confederation of Bulgarian Trade Unions and Confederation of Trade Unions "Podkrepa", the Bulgarian National Association "Active Consumers" and experts.
During the meeting, Assoc. Prof. Karadimov presented the progress of the Commission's work in three of the priority sectors - food, medicines and fuels.
“Society's expectations are high, and timely follow-up actions by the competent institutions are imperative. The Commission for the Protection of Competition continues its active actions in all three sectors“, the Chairman of the CPC also said.
He stated that within the framework of the ongoing proceedings against "Lukoil Bulgaria" The antimonopoly authority has conducted an in-depth study of the fuel market and, as early as March 4, at the beginning of the crisis in the Middle East, sent proposals for taking action to the Cabinet.
With regard to the sectoral analysis of medicines, an interim report with conclusions and recommendations for regulatory changes from the sectoral study is to be adopted.
The work on the in-depth study on the sectoral analysis of food continues in three main areas:
monitoring of the pricing policy and competitive behavior of market participants, including in the so-called traditional trade analysis of the markets for production, processing and trade in milk and dairy products and subsequent control over concentrations in the sector study of the structure of retail trade in underdeveloped regions with low purchasing powerAt the request of the National Chamber of Commerce, the fruit and vegetable trade market was also added to the sector analysis.
The members of the Public Council are about to give their opinions and proposals for specific measures on the analyses of the three sectors, which will be added to the Commission's conclusions.
The updated package of measures will be submitted to the competent executive authorities for action.