Mobile Public Reception: Exporters from the Vitebsk Region Discussed Competition Rules in the EAEU and Liability for Non-Compliance
The event brought together the main exporters of the region (more than 30 enterprises), as well as representatives of state associations "Vitebsk Concern "Meat and Dairy Products" and "Vitebskprom", local authorities, the State Control Committee and the regional prosecutor's office.
According to Alya Dzhumabayeva, Director of the Department of Competition Policy and Public Procurement Policy of the EAEС, the main task of the reception is to convey the rules of competition in the EAEС to the business community and teach entrepreneurs how to protect their rights when they are violated by monopolists or participants in anti-competitive agreements.
— Often, economic entities themselves do not understand whether a particular action is a violation, so it is important to increase business awareness of competition prohibitions, responsibility for their non-compliance, and the rules of fair conduct in the EAEС markets, — noted Alya Dzhumabayeva. — The format of the public reception provides an opportunity for entrepreneurs to discuss specific problems and ask questions directly to EAEС experts during individual consultations.
The number of appeals to national and supranational EAEС bodies on issues of fair competition is growing, as noted by specialists of the EAEС and the Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade of Belarus. According to Alya Dzhumabayeva, it mainly concerns violations of general principles and rules of competition, when the rights of subjects are restricted, abuses of dominant position or facts of unfair competition are revealed. It is important here that companies know where to seek protection, how to prepare documents, and what is the procedure for their consideration.
Participants of the public reception were also informed about the latest amendments to the rules and upcoming innovations. Among these, the use of so-called "soft law" instruments can be noted, designed to enhance the effectiveness of preventing anti-competitive actions. According to Aliya Dzhumabayeva, amendments to the EAEU Treaty are currently being developed, providing for the introduction of preventive measures such as warnings and cautions. For example, public statements by company executives in the media about planned decisions or actions, which the EEC may deem to restrict competition, can serve as grounds for issuing a caution, explained Aliya Dzhumabayeva. During the transition period, a similar measure is foreseen: sending proposals for the voluntary elimination of signs of violations of common competition rules. These proposals are developed by the EEC in conjunction with the antimonopoly authorities of the countries where the business entity operates.
Furthermore, the EEC is developing a procedure for exempting business entities from liability in case of voluntary disclosure of an anti-competitive agreement. Amendments regarding penalties for non-compliance by economic entities with EEC decisions, if such decisions oblige them to perform specific actions, are nearing completion for introduction into the EAEU Treaty, added the Director of the Department.
An important goal of holding such events is also to increase business confidence in the EEC, as approaching it is an accessible and effective way to resolve disputes. Therefore, the Commission strives to maintain continuous dialogue with the business community. To this end, a permanent public reception has been established in Moscow, and modern communication tools are used for prompt interaction in identifying and suppressing anti-competitive behavior of participants in cross-border markets. Methodological materials, "The White Paper. Competition in the EAEU," and a recently developed textbook on competition law in the EAEU are available on the websites of the EEC, the Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade of Belarus, and the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.