The information on the activities of the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications was presented by state secretaries Stevan Nikcevic, Tatjana Matic, Lukrecija Djeri and Vesna Kovac.

They briefed the Committee on the normative and project activities in the field of trade and competition completed in the previous period. As regards the prices of products and services, they stressed that the 2014 inflation of 1.7% is lower than the inflation forecast and target inflation for the year.

The Committee members were briefed on the normative activities as regards customer protection, and informed that the Strengthening of Consumer Protection in Serbia EU-funded IPA 2009 project was completed in May 2014, after 33 months of implementation.

The Ministry representatives pointed out that the 2014 market inspection priorities had been set by the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications Activity Plan and adjusted to the Serbian Government’s planned activities and adopted measures. The Government’s measures against the grey economy were implemented institutionally by the establishment of a special group for the suppression of the grey economy and organisation of individual or coordinated inspections in high-risk commercial fields. Also, international and regional market oversight cooperation was set up and market inspection administrative capacities were improved through IPA funds.

Speaking of tourism, Nikcevic highlighted the excellent cooperation with international organisations and bilateral cooperation through various projects. The Ministry had also set up task groups for the drafting of amendments and modifications to the Law on Tourism.

In the period 26 April – 31 December 2014, tourist inspections conducted 11,334 controls.

Following the discussion, the Committee decided to accept the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications Activity Report for the period 26 April – 31 December 2014.

The sitting was chaired by Committee Chairperson Dr Aleksandra Tomic.