COLLECTIVE REQUIREMENTS ENSURE THE RETURN OF FUNDS TO CITIZENS AFFECTED BY MONOPOLISTS

The agency has developed a sixth package of antitrust amendments in 2023. The draft law consists of 7 basic directions.

First of all, it is strengthening price control in monopoly markets.

We are moving away from the price controls of competitive markets, agribusiness and others, but focusing our attention on highly concentrated markets.

Here we expand the criteria for determining monopolistically high prices, introduce the regulation of dynamic pricing rules for monopoly markets, new criteria for dominance in digital markets, as well as price regulation of TMS and technologically related Energy Coal Services.

The next important area is the expansion of control over economic concentration. For the first time, we are introducing the Coordination of transactions for the transfer of state property and resources (privatization, RZHS, subsoil use), which has the greatest impact on the market structure. We will also reduce the threshold for approving the remaining transactions from 50 to 25% and strengthen control over some intragroup transactions.

The bill also proposes a number of amendments to improve the effectiveness of antitrust analyses and investigations. This is the mandatory consideration by state bodies of the agency's recommendations based on the results of the analysis and the issuance of rulings on their implementation, the methodology for conducting investigations and the annual generalization of competition legislation.

So, an important adjustment that affects the interests of consumers. For the entire period of antimonopoly regulation in our country, we have never been engaged in returning money to consumers. Only administrative control, budget fines and measures to eliminate the violation were applied, and consumers did not receive fair compensation.

We offer an effective mechanism for collective claims. This institution has proven itself well in developed countries (USA, EU).

In addition to improving antitrust regulation, the draft law is aimed at deregulating commodity markets and reducing state participation in entrepreneurship. In general, this will increase the efficiency of the agency's activities, improve the competitive climate and create more favorable conditions for business.