Podgorica, (MINA-BUSINESS) – According to the Ministry of Economic Development, the TAIEX expert mission on strengthening the capacity of Montenegrin authorities in the field of consumer protection and market surveillance has been successfully implemented.

The purpose of the mission, organized by the Ministry of Economic Development and the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection of Poland (UOKiK), was to support Montenegro’s preparations for establishing a European Consumer Centre (ECC), aligned with the ECC-Net network standards and designed to assist consumers in cross-border disputes.

During the sessions held from Tuesday to Friday, experts from UOKiK provided detailed guidance on legal and institutional frameworks, operational functioning, and models of cooperation with relevant European and international networks.

“A special focus was placed on the implementation of the Omnibus Directive, as a key instrument for improving consumer protection in the digital environment. Current topics such as fake reviews, hidden advertising, and so-called ‘dark patterns’ in e-commerce were also discussed,” the Ministry stated in a press release.

The mission was led by UOKiK Director Martyna Derszniak, Deputy Director Agnieszka Ciucias, and International Cooperation Expert Wojciech Szczerba.

The mission marks an important step in strengthening Montenegro’s institutional capacity in consumer protection and contributes to its preparation for full participation in European networks such as the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC), Consumer Protection Network (CPN), and the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN).

The mission was carried out under the TAIEX instrument of the European Commission, which provides technical assistance to EU candidate countries and potential candidates.