Competition Law at Romania
Here’s an overview of Competition Law in Romania:
🇷🇴 Competition Law in Romania
1. Legal Framework
The main legislation governing competition in Romania is Law No. 21/1996 on Competition, aligned with European Union competition law principles.
Romania, as an EU member state, also applies EU competition law (Articles 101 and 102 TFEU) directly.
2. Key Provisions
Anti-competitive Agreements:
Agreements between companies that restrict competition (like price-fixing, market sharing, or bid-rigging) are prohibited.
Abuse of Dominant Position:
Companies with significant market power cannot engage in abusive behavior (e.g., predatory pricing, refusal to supply).
Merger Control:
Mergers and acquisitions exceeding certain turnover thresholds require prior notification and approval by the Romanian Competition Council.
3. Enforcement Authority
The Romanian Competition Council (Consiliul Concurenței) is the national authority responsible for enforcing competition law, investigating anti-competitive conduct, and reviewing mergers.
4. Sanctions and Remedies
The Competition Council can impose fines up to 10% of the annual turnover for infringements.
It can order the termination of anti-competitive practices and annul illegal agreements.
Private parties can claim damages through civil courts.
5. Recent Trends
Increased scrutiny of digital platforms and tech companies.
Focus on cartels, abuse of dominance, and merger control to align with EU standards.
Ongoing modernization of enforcement tools and cooperation with EU institutions.
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