Harmonization of Moldova's Law on Competition with EU Directives: Implications and Challenges

Abstract

The Republic of Moldova has recently embarked on a pivotal legislative journey to refine its Law on Competition. This initiative, taken a decade after the law's inception, primarily aims at harmonizing with corresponding EU directives to foster a more competitive market landscape. This research seeks to critically analyze the main facets of these proposed amendments. Key areas of focus include the revision of thresholds for economic concentration notifications, modifications in the determination of dominant market positions, and the introduction of globally-oriented terms like "total global turnover" for precise fine calculations. Additionally, while these reforms intend to create a market founded on transparency and predictability, certain provisions have sparked reservations among business associations. They highlight potential implications of swiftly aligning certain EU provisions with national legislation and the conceivable repercussions on the business milieu. The study aims to dissect these concerns, providing an analytical overview of the challenges and implications the proposed changes might bring to the Moldovan economic framework. DOI: https://doi.org/10.53486/cike2023.64; UDC: [346.5:061.1EU]:347.7(478); JEL: K21, K33, F15