Moldova targets cartels and EU alignment with new Competition Council leadership
The Parliament of the Republic of Moldova appointed Alina Cebotariov as Chairperson of the Competition Council Plenum during its session on April 9. Approved with 55 votes, Cebotariov is set to begin her five-year mandate on April 27.
Cebotariov previously served as Deputy Director of the Organization for Entrepreneurship Development (ODA) and held positions at the National Commission for Financial Markets and the Ministry of Finance. Her background spans economics, financial administration, and business management.
Strategic priorities and EU integration
The new Chairperson identified the mandate as "complex and sensitive," prioritizing the alignment of national legislation with European Union standards. A key focus will be dismantling cartels, with increased scrutiny on the fuel and real estate markets.
Operational efficiency remains a primary concern. Cebotariov revealed that approximately 100 state aid schemes remain unnotified to the Council, warning that processing this backlog will place a significant burden on the current staff.
Addressing the institutional wage gap
Cebotariov emphasized that tackling staff shortages requires competitive salaries to ensure "transparent, impartial, and apolitical" decisions. She noted her public salary is approximately 40,000 MDL (€2,040), but highlighted that many specialists earn significantly less.
"Supervisory authorities assume sensitive risks for complex decisions," Cebotariov stated. She argued that compensation must better reflect the economic reality of the industries being regulated, particularly when facing powerful market actors.
Combatting "asymmetric" legal battles
Radu Marian, Chairman of the Committee on Economy, Budget, and Finance, supported the need for better funding. He criticized the "populism" surrounding public sector wages, citing the massive disparity in resources during legal disputes.
"It is difficult to expect a junior lawyer at the Competition Council, earning 10,000 MDL (approx. €510) per month, to effectively fight a cartel’s lawyer who earns €500 per hour," Marian remarked during the parliamentary debate.
The Competition Council Plenum is an independent decision-making body composed of five members. Cebotariov succeeds Alexei Gherțescu, who resigned for personal reasons earlier this year.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
