The Croatian competition authority, in collaboration with a business journal, hosted a roundtable titled 'Green Transition and Market Competition – Regulatory Challenges, Market Rules, and Sustainable Economy'. The event highlighted that green transition and effective market competition are not opposing processes but can accelerate the shift towards a sustainable economy through competition and innovation.

Opening speeches were delivered by the Minister of Environment and Green Transition, Marija Vučković, and the Chair of the Croatian competition authority, Mirta Kapural. Kapural emphasized the regulator's role in ensuring effective market competition while promoting ecological and sustainable goals, warning against abuses justified by sustainability claims.

She provided a positive example of European washing machine manufacturers who agreed to phase out the least energy-efficient models, which was positively assessed by the European Commission for reducing energy and water consumption while maintaining competition on price and quality.

Minister Vučković stressed that the green transition is crucial for enhancing economic competitiveness and relies on knowledge, innovation, and responsible decision-making. She called for a clear legislative framework, including new laws on climate change and environmental protection, to foster public trust and investment in sustainable solutions.

Martijn Snoep, Chair of the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets, highlighted the responsibility of businesses for their broader environmental and societal impacts, advocating for collaboration on ESG goals without breaching competition rules.

Nataša Novaković from the Croatian Employers' Association noted the complexity of the regulatory framework in sustainability, which poses administrative challenges for businesses, while Ana Đanić Čeko from the University of Osijek emphasized the need for specialized knowledge in environmental law.

The roundtable concluded that green transition and effective market competition are interconnected processes that can drive innovation and investment in a sustainable economy, stressing the importance of collaboration among institutions, businesses, and experts.