In mid-November 2025, the Polish competition authority, UOKiK, welcomed delegations from Montenegro and Albania for a study visit aimed at enhancing consumer protection systems. This visit was part of the EU's TAIEX program, which facilitates expert cooperation and information exchange between EU member states and partner countries.

The Albanian beneficiaries included the Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation, the Ministry of Justice, and the Consumer Protection Commission, while Montenegro was represented by the Ministry of Economic Development.

During the initial days of the visit in Warsaw, training sessions covered practical aspects of enforcing collective consumer interests, the significance of UOKiK's decisions for individual consumer rights, cross-border dispute resolution mechanisms based on Polish practices, alternative dispute resolution methods, and UOKiK's international cooperation and educational activities.

Additionally, discussions included market oversight and product safety, focusing on the control of non-food products, the operation of Safety Gate and ICSMS systems, and inspections conducted by the Trade Inspection Authority.

On the final day, the delegations visited UOKiK's branch in Bydgoszcz, where topics such as the use of artificial intelligence in consumer protection, collective consumer interests regarding pricing, and the Digital Services Act (DSA) were discussed.

This study visit concluded a year of collaboration between UOKiK and the institutions responsible for consumer protection and market oversight in Albania and Montenegro. Workshops and an expert mission were also organized in Montenegro to strengthen administrative capacities regarding the implementation of EU legal frameworks, particularly concerning digital content and services, as well as new regulations on general product safety.

The projects align with UOKiK's broader efforts to support Albania and Montenegro in their preparations for EU membership.