ZAGREB, March 16 — Croatia’s Competition Agency (AZTN) and business newspaper Poslovni dnevnik hosted a roundtable on the relationship between green transition policies and competition rules, highlighting the role of regulation, innovation and market frameworks in supporting sustainable economic development.
Participants at the event, titled “Green Transition and Competition – Regulatory Challenges, Market Rules and a Sustainable Economy,” said the green transition and effective competition are complementary processes that can accelerate the shift toward a sustainable economy when supported by clear rules and innovation.
Opening remarks were delivered by Environment and Green Transition Minister Marija Vučković and AZTN Council President Mirta Kapural.
Kapural said regulators must ensure effective competition while supporting environmental and sustainability objectives, warning that sustainability arguments should not be used to justify anti-competitive practices.
Competition rules can encourage innovation and sustainable technologies, she said, but still prohibit practices such as price-fixing, market sharing or the exchange of sensitive business information, even when companies claim environmental goals.
She cited as a positive example a cooperation agreement among European washing machine manufacturers to gradually phase out the least energy-efficient appliances and improve energy standards. The European Commission assessed the initiative positively, noting that it reduced electricity and water consumption and lowered consumer bills while preserving competition on price and quality.
Vučković said the green transition is key to strengthening economic competitiveness and depends on knowledge, innovation and responsible decision-making. She highlighted the importance of a clear and predictable legislative framework, including new legislation on climate change and ozone layer protection and upcoming laws aimed at strengthening environmental protection.
She also stressed the importance of building public trust and encouraging investments in sustainable solutions such as transport electrification, improved waste management and water-saving projects.
Martijn Snoep, president of the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets, said companies must consider the broader environmental and social impacts of their business activities. Sustainability, he noted, includes responsibility toward people and the public interest, not only environmental awareness.
Regulators provide guidance on how companies can cooperate on ESG objectives without breaching competition rules, including through joint investments in renewable energy or initiatives to reduce environmental impacts, Snoep said.
Other speakers highlighted the regulatory and legal complexities of sustainability policies. Nataša Novaković, ESG director at the Croatian Employers’ Association, said the sustainability regulatory framework is complex and can create administrative challenges for businesses, though ESG reporting is increasing transparency.
Ana Đanić Čeko, an associate professor at the University of Osijek’s Faculty of Law, said aligning environmental protection with competition law requires careful legal analysis and specialised expertise.
Lawyer Nensi Šarić said sustainability is increasingly shaping business and investment decisions, with companies using ESG strategies to manage environmental and social impacts while also strengthening competitiveness.
Participants concluded that effective competition and the green transition are closely linked and, when supported by clear regulation and cooperation between institutions, businesses and experts, can help drive innovation, investment and the development of a sustainable economy.
