Businesses oppose National Economic Chamber: No to mandatory membership

The draft law on creating a National Economic Chamber continues to be opposed by business community organizations, which assess that the changes made to the reworked draft have not addressed the main concerns.

In a joint stance, the American Chamber of Commerce and 16 other business associations demand a review of the mandatory membership model. According to them, every business with active status would automatically become part of the Chamber, while the representation of entrepreneurship should be based on the choice and will of the businesses themselves.

The organizations warn that a structure created by law should not weaken or replace existing associations and chambers, which operate on the basis of voluntary membership. Another concern relates to the annual fee businesses would pay. The business community demands that the law clearly define the services to be included in this fee and the concrete benefits for each member. The business associations also demand a full analysis of the current system, the costs of the reform and possible alternatives, before a financial obligation is imposed on entrepreneurship.

According to them, the division of competences between the new Chamber and public institutions, particularly the National Business Center, must also be clear, to avoid parallel procedures and extra costs.