FAS PUBLIC COUNCIL ASSESSED ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE FIELD OF COMPETITION DEVELOPMENT

Artem Molchanov: “18 out of 38 expected results of competition development are already achieved, and this is a good outcome”.

On 5 March 2020, the FAS Public Council assessed achievement of the targets of the National Competition Development Plan in 2019 and shared ideas for improving the figures in the future.

Head of FAS Legal Department Artem Molchanov outlined the results achieved executing the 2018-2020 National Competition Development Plan. In particular, presence of at least three economic entities in all segments of the economy is ensured, of which at least 1 is a private company, except the spheres of operation of natural monopolies and entities involved in the defence-industry complex.

Another important result: violations of the antimonopoly law by the authorities have decreased by 1.3 times in comparison with 2017. Also, 18 out 38 expected results of competition development are achieved, including:

• Private companies are given a possibility of non-discriminatory participation in rendering social services;

• Intra-network roaming in the filed of telecommunications is abolished and discriminatory technology limitations for the market participants are liquidated;

• A transition to market pricing in gas supply is ensured by developing exchange and off-exchange price indices for natural gas;

• The export share of Russian industrial goods has increased, a competitive mechanism for subsidizing Russian industrial producers is established;

• Geography of exchange supplies of agricultural products has expanded;

• Measures are undertaken in road construction to prevent emergence of cartels.

Artem Molchanov reminded that the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation already held the first large-scale discussion of a draft 2021-2025 National Competition Development Plan, which will determine the main goals and objectives for 5 years, the key indicators, events and Road Maps. Among the tasks specified in the document, special attention will be paid to providing non-discriminatory access to natural resources, development of small and medium business and digitalization of antimonopoly and tariff regulation.

“By 2025 we must enable development of competitive environment for each sector of the economy, and decrease the share of companies with state and municipal participation on competitive markets. 10 authorities supported the draft National Plan unconditionally. On 4 March, Head of FAS Igor Artemiev addressed the State Duma, and asked members of the Parliament to participate in drafting the Plan. We always welcome constructive discussions and believe that more ambitious goals should be set”, stated Artem Molchanov.