Public Discussion on Preliminary Version of State Aid Control Bill

The Ministry of Finance will initiate public discussion on working paper of the Draft Law on State Aid Control as of tomorrow, 21 December 2007. Many stakeholders have been invited to take part in the public discussion: the Government ministries, State Audit Institution, Competition Protection Commission, National Investment Plan Office, Republic of Serbia Development Fund, Guarantee Fund, Serbian Investment and Export Promotion Agency, Export Insurance and Financing Agency, AP Vojvodina Executive Council, EU Association Office, state aid beneficiaries, Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities, relevant international organizations and any other stakeholders who believe that their comments may help improve the text of the Law.

The Ministry

of Finance will initiate public discussion on working paper of the Draft Law on State Aid Control as of tomorrow, 21 December 2007. Many stakeholders have been invited to take

part in the public discussion: the Government ministries, State Audit

Institution, Competition Protection Commission, National Investment Plan

Office, Republic of Serbia Development Fund, Guarantee Fund, Serbian Investment

and Export Promotion Agency, Export Insurance and Financing Agency, AP

Vojvodina Executive Council, EU Association Office, state aid beneficiaries,

Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities,

relevant international organizations and any other stakeholders who believe

that their comments may help improve the text of the Law.

Particular

provisions of the Law have been explained in Rationale of the Law, along with

indication of their relation with relevant European Union regulations. The Law

has been aligned with the acquis communautaire concerning state aid, to the

degree required for a country expecting to soon sign Stabilization and

Association Agreement and for the interim agreement to come into effect. The

Law provides for realization of commitments concerning state aid stipulated by

the agreement. This Law is unprecedented, because it will establish a system of

state aid control for the first time in Serbia, and active participation of all

stakeholders in the public debate is expected.

The

public discussion will last until 15 January 2008.