NSA: Protecting local traders from foreign competition is unconstitutional

The Supreme Administrative Court (NSA) has ruled that the decision by Pabianice Town Hall to bar international retail chains from setting up shopping malls in the municipality is unconstitutional. Pabianice's authorities are alleged to have decided last year to ban the construction of any shopping entity occupying floor space of more than 300 square meters. A defunct local factory that had earlier signed a deal with a French developer to construct a shopping mall on the factory premises filed a motion with NSA questioning the constitutionality of the decision. The municipality made the decision on the grounds that it had a social mission to protect the interests of smaller local traders who would be vulnerable to bankruptcy if big supermarkets opened up. (Rzeczpospolita, page A1) S.M..