Between 26-28 November 2024, a delegation consisting of representatives of the Competition Council and the Organization for the Development of Entrepreneurship, led by the member of the Plenum of the competition authority, Ionel Sîrghii, participated in a TAIEX study visit on the implementation of the new rules in the field of de minimis aid. The event took place at the Czech Competition Authority, in the city of Brno, and at the Ministry of Agriculture in Prague, Czech Republic.

The main purpose of this visit was to strengthen the capacities of the Moldovan authorities to implement new rules and regulations on de minimis aid. These measures are essential to improve transparency in the provision of state aid, in the context of the commitments made by the Republic of Moldova in its European path.

The theme of the visit is particularly current and relevant, given the country’s objectives of aligning national legislation with the EU acquis. The implementation of the new regulations is also essential for achieving the strategic objectives set out in the National Action Plan for the Implementation of the Association Agreement with the European Union for the period 2024-2027, in particular with regard to the development of the central register of de minimis aid granted.

By developing and continuously updating this register, effective monitoring of de minimis aid provided by the authorities will be ensured, this will significantly help to increase transparency and avoid risks of abuse or irregularities in the process of granting financial support measures.

The study visit was a valuable opportunity for Moldovan authorities to learn from Czech good practices and strengthen cooperation in competition and state aid with international partners.