CEE Legal Matters
In-depth coverage of the news and newsmakers that shape Europe's emerging markets
Complaints (under Croatian competition law also referred to as “initiatives”), through which different market players may inform the Croatian Competition Agency (CCA) of suspected infringements of competition laws, have been introduced in the Croatian Competition Act back in 2010 and are not a novelty. Complaints have proved to be a useful tool that brought certain competition law violations to the attention of the CCA and helped detect and correct discrepancies in the market.
On May 13, 2022, the Assembly of Kosovo passed Law No. 08/L-056 on Protection of Competition, replacing the previous law that had been in effect since October 2010. The new law aims to align the legal framework with EU rules and enhance the efficiency of the Kosovo Competition Authority (KCA). In the context of mergers, acquisitions, and other forms of concentration, the KCA aims to scrutinize concentration filings to assess potential threats to competition in the Kosovo market.
Despite the quite long-lasting existence of a legislative framework for conditional merger clearances and imposing remedies on undertakings, the Antimonopoly Office of the Slovak Republic (Slovak NCA) has not used this option for many years. We are, however, experiencing a change in the practice of the Slovak NCA. Are we experiencing a change of trend in conditional merger clearances in Slovakia?
If one were to glance over the website of the Montenegrin Agency for Protection of Competition (Agency), one may reach what will turn out to be a premature conclusion that the Agency is not an overly active enforcer, especially when it comes to merger control-related infringements. One will also not be able to learn much about the Agency’s fining practices. To gain a more realistic picture of its track record with gun-jumping cases, a deeper dive into publicly available data is required. Reasons for this lie mostly with how the Montenegrin legal system for the levying of competition fines is set up.
Allen & Overy has represented the Stock Spirits Group in merger control proceedings before the Polish Competition Authority for the acquisition of Polmos Bielsko-Niala.
On 12 July 2023 the general or ex officio tool of the FSR became applicable. The tool empowers the European Commission (EC) to investigate cases where foreign subsidies are suspected of having a distortive effect on the EU's internal market, even if they do not fall within the scope of the other two FSR tools (M&A tool and public procurement tool). This gives the EC a powerful instrument to tackle market distortions from subsidies granted by third countries.
Former Lithuanian Competition Council Chairman Sarunas Keserauskas has returned to Ellex Valiunas as a Partner, after spending 12 years as the head of the competition watchdog.
