This is the date when investigations begin for monopoly and abuse of dominant position

The Kosovar Competition Authority (AKK), from August 5th of this year, begins implementing the agenda for European reforms, which with this contract signed with Government and the Assembly is obliged to identify monopolies, the dominant position of markets throughout Kosovo's territory.

AKK Chairman Valon Prestreshi has indicated that there are about 14 markets that will be identified and investigated for monopoly. Prestershi in an interview for KosovaPress, has said that the telecommunication market, energy, water, oil derivatives, insurance market, pharmaceutical market, public procurement, banks will be investigated for monopolies, prices, dominant positions.

The authority will investigate these markets by 15 December and then the recommendations found will be handed over to the Government and the Assembly.

“The Agency for European Reform as a contract signed by the Government of Kosovo and approved in the Parliament for Economic Reform has charged us at two points. Identifying monopolies throughout the Republic of Kosovo. We like the Kosovo Competition Authority consider that the most sensitive or vulnerable markets we consider if they are influenced by their competition are, the telecommunication market, energy, oil derivatives, pharmaceutical products market, transportation, media market and cinematographic products, procurement, banking market, luck games, mining market, fiscal equipment, water supply market and waste market. These markets we have identified as potentially monopolies .”, Prestreshi said.

He has indicated that the bull on 15 December, the Authority must compile the report and hand over the government. According to him, the AKK will not make any compromises in the findings of the geniuses (prone agreements) or illegal ones.

“The Agency for European Reform has forced us to finish this job in the fourth quarter of this year. By 15 December, the Authority plans to complete this report to present the Government and the Assembly with relevant recommendations. In all these markets that I mentioned earlier. We have initially drafted the strategy for implementing the agenda, and this strategy has been formed working groups, and 5 August will be on the ground by 15 December, making monopoly findings in these markets that I mentioned earlier. We have an obligation, to the European agenda for European reform, to do this identification and to present it to the Government and the Assembly with appropriate recommendations. Whatever's done. Starting market liberalisation, prevention of price fixing, prevention of market sharing, prevention of conditioning various contracts companies make. Here the AKK is going to be a little bit of a compromise in finding genius deals or illegal deals.”, Prestreshi said.

He has also said that there are monopolies in the country's market, which in some cases are also created with state knowledge such as automotive counterparts.

According to him, very soon this market should also be liberalised as are the requirements the European Union has put on Kosovo.

“Rate monopolies. We're identifying them, there are natural monopolies allowed by the state, there are also natural monopolies. The counterpart, for example, is a capital monopoly allowed by the state, legally formed by the state itself. The AKK will take a very stable step around this phenomenon. I will also recommend to the Government that this monopoly of counterpart liberalize... The SAA points to it, the AKK should do such research, this is directly related to the SAA issue, contractual agreements between Kosovo and the EU for entry into the European market. Directly related to EU access, it is urgent activity of authority to do the identification because Brussels, Government and Parliament are required. “, Prestrishi said.

He also said abuse of dominant positions is prohibited by the penal code. According to him, the fines are 10 per cent of the company's annual circulation.

“Abuse with monopolistic position unless it is condemned by authority is punishable even with penal code 301, it is a criminal offence. So the moment we start procedures on this case, we're going to make a criminal record against the person who has made such a deal... Ten percent of that company's total annual revenues. If a company has 1m euros in annual circulation, it is fined 10 per cent, which is worth 100,000 euros. We make a civil decision, if we think it's abuse of dominant monopolistic position, we even make it a criminal threat to the Prosecutor. “, Prestrishi said.

Prestreshi also said that in the new automotive law, there are elements that divide the market. According to him, Article 89 of this law says all citizens are obliged to do technical control in their municipality.

“According to the AKK, our preliminary thoughts are that this is market sharing. You can't assign it to a citizen who can do a technical checkup. Because this is economic activity. Every citizen, client, business has a right to choose where they want to do the technical control of vehicles. We during August will send a recommendation to the ministry to start procedures for change and fulfillment of this article. This article affects business economic activity and also violates citizens' right”, Prestreshi said.

The Kosovo Competition Authority in the past had punished the companies for selling fiscal crates by 100,000 euros, as they were suspected of price fixing.

It was similar with 10 insurance companies, each being fined 100 thousand euros.