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- Ελληνικά
Regarding yesterday's announcement by the Parliamentary Committee on Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism on the bill entitled "The Determination of Maximum Retail Prices of Products at Specific Points of Sale Law of 2024", the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry (MoECI) notes the following:
This bill, sent by letter from the Minister of Energy, Trade and Industry to the Speaker of the House of Representatives on March 27, 2024, is an initiative of the Consumer Protection Agency of the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry. Its ultimate purpose is to protect and support consumers, particularly in times of adverse economic conditions and exogenous crises that adversely affect their economic interests.
During its preparation, the bill was subject to extensive public consultation during the period 14/09/2023 to 02/11/2023, in the context of which the initial draft was sent for comments to all public and private sector stakeholders. The consultation was conducted both electronically and through meetings at the offices of the Consumer Protection Agency and stakeholder comments/insights were considered and, where possible, adopted. Therefore, under no circumstances can it be claimed that the suggestions of the stakeholders were not taken into account during the public consultation.
It is noted that the main reservation of the stakeholders who wish to vote against the Bill on the basis of their written positions during the public consultation stage is the interference in the market and the possible distortion of competition between Cypriot and imported bottled water, a view that is not shared by the Competition Protection Commission, which is fully competent authority on the matter.
It is noted that the main reservation of the stakeholders who wish to vote against the Bill on the basis of their written positions during the public consultation stage is the interference in the market and the possible distortion of competition between Cypriot and imported bottled water, a view that is not shared by the Competition Protection Commission, which is fully competent authority on the matter. In addition, it is noted that the draft law has been subject to a technical legislative control and approval by the Legal Service, as well as by the European Commission itself.
It is also stressed that it has never been implied that the proposed bill concerns the universal application of a cap on the sale price of water. The title of the Bill itself is sufficiently clear as to its purpose, as explained in Article 4, which notes that "the Minister shall by Order prescribe maximum sale prices for a specified period of time for all or some of the products listed in Schedule A, which shall apply where such products are made available by undertakings operating outlets determined in accordance with Article 5."
Furthermore, it is noted that at no time did a representative of the On the contrary, in response to a question from Members of Parliament, the Consumer Protection Agency clarified that it was not possible to make public the prices resulting from its research before the Minister's assessment and approval and, in any case, before the Law was passed. It was also explained to those present that once the framework had been approved by the House of Representatives with the passage of the Law, the Service would proceed immediately with the issuance of the Ministerial Decree, initially for Airports, Ports and Beaches, taking into account the operating costs and the specificities of each point of sale (in accordance with Article 4 of the Law), followed by Decrees for the other points of sale.
It is understood that the issuance of a Decree on when, where and the amount of the maximum prices is the responsibility of the Executive and cannot be a prerequisite for the enactment of the legislative framework.
In conclusion, the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry wishes to clarify that, in the context of the broader effort to implement additional policies to support citizens, particularly in times of exogenous crises, it considers it imperative to pass the proposed bill for purposes of public interest and to protect the interests of consumers.
Finally, it assures that the Consumer Protection Agency will continue to carry out its mission with the same zeal and with the sole aim of promoting the interests of consumers, through initiatives and actions such as the bill in question, which is before the House of Representatives for adoption.
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