AmCham Macedonia Winter 2017 (Issue 52) | Seite 9

Winter 2017 / Issue 52

COVER STORY protect their collective rights with respect to the same company or group of companies .

AM : How do you assess the current legal framework ’ s coverage of consumer protection in public services ?

MLV : One part of the Law on Consumer Protection already regulates public services . Our research shows that the Law needs to more clearly define :

• What is meant by “ public services ”;

• The rights of vulnerable consumer groups ; and

• The obligations of public service providers .

A new Law on Consumer Protection is planned for 2017 . The new law will certainly have to set minimum standards for resolving complaints by consumers submitted to the companies and to provide an obligation for service providers to keep statistics of consumer complaints they receive , the status and outcome of proceedings , as well as options for ADR with consumers .

AM : In your opinion , are international companies helping raise consumer protection practices in Macedonia ? Please elaborate .

MLV : Foreign companies entering our market are well-versed in the issues concerning consumer rights protection and they bring and apply positive experiences with the aim of increasing sales and satisfied customers . The entry of foreign companies in our market contributes to the development of new production methods , new standards and ways of managing companies , creating product lines aligned with developed markets and consumer rights , thus increase consumer expectations with respect to product and services quality .

AmCham Comments on Macedonia ’ s 2017-19 National Economic Reform Program

he European Commission invites all enlarge-

T

ment countries to prepare annual Economic Reform Programmes ( ERPs ); Macedonia , along with all other Western Balkan countries and Turkey , submitted its first ERP in January 2015 . This activity is meant to help candidate countries and potential candidates to enhance their economic policy and its governance .

In late December 2016 , AmCham Macedonia was invited to review and comment on a draft of the Macedonia ’ s 2017-19 ERP . While just 6 working days were allowed for this process , AmCham submitted comments based on its previous year ’ s submission ( all of which remained relevant ) and added several key issues raised by companies within advocacy committees throughout 2016 .

As was the case with the previous year ’ s review , AmCham members felt the proposed program did not adequately address the areas they felt were most relevant and in most urgent need of reform attention . The following is a list of those issues raised in this year ’ s submission , which should be published in full as an Annex to the final 2017-19 ERP very soon :

The ERP should include reforms to : enable a significant increase in financial discipline of budget users toward the private sector . Specifically , such reform should include a standardized methodology in the Enforcement Law by which municipalities ’ reserved “ operational funds ” are to be calculated in enforcement proceedings and introduce other measures that prevent blatant and long-term abuse of private contractors who have delivered public works in good faith . foster real , open and systemic dialogue with industry . reduce the grey economy . We highlighted the importance of the State Office of Industrial Property more efficiently performing its core function of processing trademark and patent applications as a cornerstone of any Government efforts to encourage innovation and reduce the grey economy . reduce regulatory confusion . We cited the lack of implementing legislation for the Enforcement Law which came into force on 1.1.2017 as another problematic case of regulatory confusion . increase the predictability , consistency , fairness of inspections . increase transparency and oversight of company appeal mechanisms . ensure taxation and penalty policies are rational and fair . We called for an assessment and rationalization of parafiscal charges levied at the national and municipal level . We also recommended that Corporate Income Tax and Value Added Tax legislation should be aligned with the requirements of the global digital transformation , thereby contributing to the ease of providing electronic services and conducting e-commerce in Macedonia , as well as to the overall transparency and revenue collection . encourage internships in companies . ensure strategic investments in educational quality .

AMCHAM MAGAZINE 9