21 Dec 2017 20:43

Putin signs decree on state policy to develop competition

MOSCOW. Dec 21 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree on the main focus of state policy to develop competition, the Kremlin said in a press statement.

"With the goals of strengthening the national economy, the future development of competition and not allowing monopoly activity, I hereby order that active assistance to develop competition in Russia be considered a priority area of activity of the Russian president, the Russian Federal Assembly, the Russian government, the Central Bank of Russia, executive federal government bodies, the legislative, representative and executive bodies of Russian federal subjects, as well as local government bodies," the published text of the press statement of the decree said.

The document spelled out the goals of improving state policy to develop competition, as well as the foundational principles of state policies to develop competition.

Putin also ordered that the enclosed national plan to develop competition in Russia for 2018-2020 be approved and ordered the Russian government to coordinate implementing measures included in the national plan.

The president ordered higher officials and leaders of higher executive bodies of the government of Russian federal subject to begin working on developing competition in Russia's federal subjects.

The document also includes recommendations from Putin to Russia's higher court, the prosecutor general, local government bodies, the president's national council for professional qualifications, the ministry of education and science, the Russian public chamber, as well as self-regulatory organizations, non-governmental organizations, professional unions and consumer councils.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev mentioned preparations for the decree at a meeting with Putin on Thursday. He said that the decree "should introduce additional regulations in the sphere of antimonopoly activity" and that the issue related to the fundamentals of developing the economy.

"In terms of the decree itself, of course I will sign it now," he told Putin.

Putin in his turn said that "under the decree, besides the general conditions which relate to the competencies of antimonopoly agencies and the government, it also calls for the approval of a national plan to develop competition from 2018-2020 which includes supporting small and medium-sized business...as well as additional measures of antimonopoly regulation."

Medvedev said that "a whole range of measures and instructions of the president were taken into account which were aimed at improving antimonopoly legislation."