Teresa Ribera, the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for a clean, fair, and competitive transition, visited the Croatian Competition Authority (AZTN) today. This marks her first official visit to the agency since its establishment, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary in April 2027.

During the visit, Ribera engaged in discussions with Dr. Mirta Kapural, the President of the AZTN Council, and Branimira Kovačević, the Deputy President. They presented the agency's work, achievements, and priorities, focusing on the implementation of EU competition law and the agency's active collaboration within the European Competition Network (ECN).

The discussions highlighted the agency's focus on sectors significantly impacting consumer welfare, including food retail, supply chains, electronic communications, energy, construction, and digital transport platforms. The AZTN aims to tackle severe violations of competition law, such as prohibited agreements and abuse of dominant positions, particularly in the food supply chain.

Additionally, the agency is working on a draft proposal for a new Competition Law that aligns with the ECN+ Directive and OECD recommendations, enhancing Croatia's legal framework to match EU standards. The conversation also addressed the challenges faced by the AZTN regarding human, financial, and technical resources.

Ribera was informed about the agency's efforts to enforce EU competition rules across all national markets in Croatia, while also managing the Law on Prohibition of Unfair Trading Practices in the Food Supply Chain. The AZTN is also proposed as a national contact point for the implementation of the European Regulation on Foreign Subsidies.

The agency actively participates in the ECN, hosting meetings and advocating for improved cooperation between national competition authorities and the European Commission. The first joint unannounced inspection conducted by the AZTN in collaboration with Slovenia was also noted as a significant achievement.

Ribera was briefed on the AZTN's activities related to green transition and sustainability, including a roundtable organized in March 2026 on regulatory challenges and sustainable economy. The AZTN will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2027, and the President of the Council invited Ribera to the commemorative conference scheduled for April 15, 2027, in Zagreb.