Competition Law at Montenegro
Here’s a summary of Competition Law in Montenegro:
🇲🇪 Legal Framework
Montenegro’s competition law is primarily governed by the Law on Protection of Competition (latest version from 2020).
The law aligns closely with EU competition law principles as Montenegro is a candidate country for EU accession.
It prohibits:
Anti-competitive agreements (e.g., cartels)
Abuse of dominant market positions
Unlawful mergers and acquisitions that reduce competition
🏛️ Enforcement Authority
The Agency for Protection of Competition of Montenegro is the independent authority responsible for:
Investigating and sanctioning anti-competitive practices
Reviewing merger notifications and approving or prohibiting concentrations
Promoting competition and market transparency
⚖️ Key Provisions
Prohibition of Anti-Competitive Agreements:
Includes agreements that restrict competition, price fixing, market sharing, etc.
Abuse of Dominant Position:
Firms with significant market power must not exploit that position to the detriment of competition or consumers.
Merger Control:
Concentrations exceeding certain turnover thresholds must be notified and cleared by the Competition Agency before implementation.
Fines and Sanctions:
The Agency can impose fines up to 10% of the company’s annual turnover for infringements.
🌐 EU Alignment and Cooperation
Montenegro cooperates with the European Competition Network (ECN) and aligns its rules with EU competition policies.
This harmonization supports Montenegro’s EU accession process.
🧭 Summary
Montenegro has a robust and modern competition law framework closely aligned with EU standards. The independent Competition Agency actively enforces the rules, focusing on preventing cartels, abuse of dominance, and anti-competitive mergers to maintain fair competition.
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