Nearly two months after the Commission for the Protection of Competition in Serbia initiated proceedings against four major retail chains over potential monopolistic practices and price fixing, the investigation remains ongoing, with few details emerging. The Commission launched the investigation after observing price movements for 35 selected products over several months and discovering identical pricing across several retail chains. Subsequently, they expanded the analysis to 45 products and included an additional retailer. Following this, the Special Department for Suppression of Corruption of the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade also began a pre-investigation procedure.
As of now, it remains unclear how far the investigation has progressed or when it will be concluded. The slow pace of the inquiry has led to frustration among consumers, who fear that the investigation may ultimately yield no tangible results. Despite ambitious promises of action against monopolistic practices, consumers are still waiting for answers about whether they have been harmed by the price-fixing behavior of these retail chains and whether they are still paying inflated prices for everyday goods.
Lack of transparency from authorities
The Commission for the Protection of Competition has stated that, due to the nature of the ongoing investigation, it cannot provide further details or speculate on the timeline. “The Commission will inform the public about its actions in a timely manner, as it has done so far,” a representative stated. Similarly, the Prosecutor’s Office has not responded to inquiries about the case.
Investigations into competition violations in Serbia are known to take a considerable amount of time, sometimes stretching over several years. Vesna Perinčić, president of the Republican Union of Consumers, commented that such proceedings are often prolonged, especially when a prosecutor is involved, as in this case.
Skepticism about the outcome
Goran Papović, president of the National Consumer Organization of Serbia, expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the investigation, suggesting that the Commission for the Protection of Competition may not have sufficient evidence to prove that the four retail chains colluded on pricing. “If no concrete evidence is found, the companies involved might sue and win in court,” he warned. Papović further suggested that the Commission should focus on examining the relationships between suppliers and retailers, including ownership structures and pricing agreements, to uncover potential irregularities.
Calls for transparency and action
The United Trade Unions of Serbia “Sloga” have demanded an urgent update from the Commission on the progress of the case, emphasizing that citizens, already burdened by inflation and high food prices, have the right to know how far the investigation has gone and why no specific actions have been taken yet. They have also called on the newly appointed Minister of Foreign and Internal Trade, Jagoda Lazarević, to address the public and provide a detailed update on the situation.
Željko Veselinović, president of the union, also expressed frustration with the delay, arguing that the investigation should have been concluded by now. He believes there is enough evidence to prove that price-fixing and monopolistic practices have occurred. According to Veselinović, food prices in Serbia are higher than in other countries where the same retail chains operate, further suggesting that consumers have been negatively affected.
In conclusion, Veselinović urged the authorities to quickly resolve the investigation and take appropriate action against the retailers involved. He recommended limiting trade margins to help reduce the cost of basic foodstuffs, which he believes could lower prices by a third and better protect consumers.
