President Iohannis decorates head of competition watchdog Chiritoiu

President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday awarded Chairman of the Trade Competition Council Bogdan Chiritoiu and three other competition officials Romania's Star in the rank of Knight decorations to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Competition Council, as a token of high esteem for the significant contribution to the protection and boost of competition on the Romanian market in order to develop an adequate competition environment and to promote the consumers' best interests.

Iohannis congratulated the Competition Council on its sustained effort in the service of the Romanian economy, in accordance with the free market principles prevailing in the European Union and in the developed economies of the world.

"We are now, after a quarter century, at a point where we can say that we have a market economy and consolidated organisations after a transition that was not simple at all. During this period, regulators played a very important part, which the Competition Council has displayed and I hope to do so further," said Iohannis.

According to him, the emergence of open, honest and fair competition is essential to the Romanian economy, so that the business environment may develop through its own forces, and also through authentic achievements.

"Competition is the key factor in the manifestation of economic freedom and prosperity. In this sense, I am convinced that in the future, the Competition Council will prove its professionalism at the highest level so that competition may provide as many antibodies as necessary to a sound and dynamic economy. The business environment needs clear, predictable rules and transparent authorities to enforce the rules. At the same time, the well-being of consumers depends, to an important degree, on the...