Assistant Minister for consumer protection Vesna Novaković has said, in the expert meeting on consumer protection, held at the Faculty of Law in Belgrade, that the topic of this year’s World Consumer Rights Day is the creation of a digital market and building trust of consumers in electronic processes taking place in that market.

She has said that this week the entire world will have hundreds events organised with the aim to bridge the gap and establish full trust between consumers, on one side, and other digital market participants, on the other.

In that respect Serbia is not an exemption and electronic market significantly improved last year, as stated by Ms Novaković, adding that there is an increasing number of online sellers and online shoppers who are aware of their rights and mechanisms for their protection.

Ms Vesna Novaković has underlined that with the beginning of the implementation of the Law on Consumers Protection the biggest success has been achieved in protecting collective interest of consumers. She has said that associations for consumer protection have recognised the significance of that protection instrument making applications and initiatives for launching the protection procedures in all cases when a collective interest of consumers is identified.

Member of the Negotiation Team of the Republic of Serbia in charge of Chapter 28 – Consumer and health protection Nebojša Lazarević has said that it is significant for this area to have no interim criteria for opening the chapter.

Associate Dean of the Faculty of Law University of Belgrade Professor Dr Dobrosav Milovanović has stressed the importance of finding a balance between the laws in the EU Member States and those who need to be adjusted to Serbia.