Communication
The aim of the protection of market competition is primarily to create benefits for consumers and equal conditions for all entrepreneurs on the market, who, acting in accordance with the existing rules and competing on the market with the quality, price and innovation of their products and services, contribute to the overall development of the economy.
In the Town of Vodice local municipality decision contravenes with Competition Act
The Croatian Competition Agency (CCA) addressed in its opinion the behaviour of the Town of Vodice and its decision under which with the consent of the Major it exceptionally allows provision of advertising for catering services, retail and other services and booking on human billboards and placards only to economic operators with their place of establishment in the territory of the Town of Vodice. The CCA found in its opinion that such a practice contravenes with Competition Act.
The CCA legal analysis and the issued opinion were the result of the query made regarding the issue concerned by the Croatian Association of Ship Operators and Shipbuilders Adria Zadar.
In its opinion the CCA stated that it is beyond any dispute that the Town of Vodice has the power to make decisions concerning municipality issues based on separate laws and with the view to performing the activities as a self-government unit. However, in doing so, the Town of Vodice should also respect the guiding EU rules and principles and should not restrict the freedom of establishment in this particular case by allowing only the economic operators with their seat of establishment in the Town of Vodice to perform the above mentioned economic activities.