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Competition & Consumer

Enhancing competition facilitates growth, fosters innovation, promotes productivity, creates jobs and provides multiple benefits for consumers, entrepreneurs, and the state. SEV highlights the importance of efficient competition by promoting compliance and self-regulation, by supporting the independence of competition authorities and sectoral regulators, and by demanding less state intervention in product-market regulation.

Top Priorities

Market & professions liberalization: A new growth strategy for Greece is of utmost importance and can only be achieved by aligning national competition framework with prevailing industrial policies. Therefore, removing barriers to entry, adopting self-regulation schemes, and implementing better and more rational market rules, as well as liberalizing professions are among our top priorities.
New deal for consumers: E-commerce and innovation technologies have brought forward a need for consumer centricity, better communication and cooperation framework among business, consumers and the state focusing on better products, services, and prices for consumers. SEV is in close cooperation with the competent authorities to ensure the presence of businesses in all consumer sensitive matters.
Strengthen competition in specific market areas: Following the implementation of OECD toolkit recommendations, national initiatives are needed to ensure the adoption of international best practices. OECD toolkit recommendations can assist in the creation of a level playing field in specific market sectors and create an attractive business environment. SEV having recorded the entire relevant legislative project monitors the successful adoption of the OECD toolkit principles in areas of law covering the entire spectrum of the regulatory environment.
Raising awareness & Capacity building: SMEs and smaller business associations must become aware and be able to take advantage of the merits of healthy competition and face the challenges of a digitalized economy. Moreover, it is essential to create capacity building within public administration, to ensure national rules are designed with a competition perspective.

Policy Issues

Implementation of Damages Directive: The implementation of the Damages Directive raises issues of remuneration calculation, burden of proof, and cooperation with the courts as well as awareness of market operators on diligent competition practices. SEV shall continue to promote compliance among enterprises and support the HCC and the courts towards applying the new legislation in practice.
Independent authorities’ legal framework: As the framework of regulatory authorities recently changed, SEV shall keep supporting their greater independence and transparency as well as their stronger cooperation with enterprises for the enhancement of competition, market liberalization and social welfare.
Digitalization and Industry 4.0: Challenges deriving from digitalization, emerging business standards and Industry 4.0 lead towards changes in EU competition law within the following years. SEV will be active in order to advocate the domestic market needs towards EU initiatives.

Committees & Working Groups

Consumer affairs working Group: Join our Competition Working Group and accelerate our influence towards policy makers and consumer groups. For more than 12 years the group has been active in promoting policy proposals, initiatives, and actions towards a better regulatory framework for consumers.
Competition Working Group: Join our Competition WG to contribute to the formation of policy papers and recommendations for a level playing field of all market sectors and a competitive business environment serving consumer and social welfare.

How to get involved

Be connected by participating in specialised workshops, round tables, panel discussions and networking events.
Access intelligence through SEV’s monthly Regulatory Affairs bulletin with all latest news on legislative developments, and the in-house research team.
Be involved in policy consultations and contribute to decision making procedures. Send your comments, views and ideas and help us promote growth, create new jobs and international competitiveness.
Participate in our annual Business Pulse Survey and help us monitor progress, highlight weaknesses, and develop viable and realistic public policy proposals.