The Government intends to take the Chambers into business as well, while it aims to create a public Chamber with mandatory membership, and in this way the exclusion of business associations.
The National Economic Council has recently distributed to business associations a new model of business representation, through which the government will practically "monopolize" the representation of businesses in the Business Chambers and Associations.
The essence of this model includes the reorganization of the current model towards the pure model of public law, respecting the principles of a unified system, with a sectoral approach and regional division. The reform envisages the strengthening of the position of the Public Chamber and the creation of the Unique National Economic Chamber. Membership of commercial entities will be mandatory in accordance with constitutional norms and international models.
Quotation will be scaled based on type and annual turnover, with a symbolic minimum quota for small businesses, with sectorial and regional representation.
This model, according to the report, would foster a unified business voice and promote a regular dialogue with state bodies for business promotion and development.
The report calls the high number of business organizations problematic, with more than 180 associations. According to the report, there is an irregular level of sectoral representation, regional and international representation, as well as there is poor accountability and transparency of the chambers' activity and a lack of cohesion and partnership with the bilateral Chambers.
The role of creating this new model has been left to the Minister for Entrepreneurship, who will set up a temporary Commission with the objective of setting up the new chamber system and organizing the first elections of the governing and decision-making bodies within two years from the entry into force of law.
The temporary commission will prepare the by-laws and the elections in the system of the National Economic Chamber and the sectoral Chambers, marking the dissolution of the Temporary Commission with the election of the governing bodies.
The initial funding of the National Economic Chamber will be subsidized by the state for a period of 2 years, starting from the moment the commission's work begins.
It's not the first time
A few years ago, in 2016, the government tried to implement the same scheme, for the compulsory membership of businesses in a Chamber of Commerce, but withdrew after strong opposition from business associations. They called compulsory membership a hidden tax, while claiming that through the scheme the government would easily control business while avoiding the role of the current Chambers, most of which operate as independents, opposing government policies. .