COMPETITION COUNCIL EXPERTS SHARED THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH COLLEAGUES FROM MONTENEGRO

A two-day study visit of representatives from Montenegro's Competition Protection Agency has concluded today. During the visit, guests became familiar with the latest working practices of the Competition Council, its key operational principles, and engaged in discussions on topics relevant to both institutions.

Welcoming the guests, Irma Urmonaitė, Deputy Chairwoman of the Competition Council, was pleased that the institution continues to successfully develop cooperation with the countries that are seeking membership in the European Union.

"We hope that the Competition Council’s valuable experience, accumulated in more than three decades of operation, will be beneficial to Montenegro's institution – not only in improving its internal processes for competition supervision but also in helping colleagues gain a deeper understanding of EU competition law principles and their practical application," said I. Urmonaitė.

The Deputy Chairwoman introduced the Montenegrin delegation to the institution’s mission and vision, which are directly linked to ensuring effective competition. She outlined the strategic objectives, including creating benefits for consumers, enhancing operational efficiency, promoting a strong competition culture, and integrating the latest technological solutions into the institution’s activities. Additionally, she provided an overview of the Authority’s key achievements, principles for setting priorities, the significance of international cooperation and competition-related education, and answered the questions of the guests.

During the visit, the experts of the Competition Council introduced their Montenegrin colleagues to the most relevant practical examples from recent years in areas such as merger control, investigations of prohibited agreements, state aid, and other fields. Discussions also covered the organisational principles of both countries' competition authorities, sharing best practices, addressing challenges encountered in daily operations, and exploring possible solutions by leveraging the experience of other institutions, international organisations, and the latest technologies.

The Montenegrin delegation’s study visit to Lithuania took place at the request of the Polish Office for Economic Policy and Regional Development as part of an EU-funded project aimed at strengthening institutional capacities in implementing EU law in the fields of competition and innovation.