Last year, 24 investigations into possible violations of competition law were opened, the most in 12 years, and fines amounted to 160 million lei (€32.1 million), most of which related to deals between companies.

In 2023, 24 investigations into possible violations of competition law were launched, the most in the last 12 years, in areas such as electricity distribution, the market for banking credit services for individuals, the production and/or sale of sunflower oil, sugar and butter, the market for auto parts or market for the maintenance of national roads and motorways, the Competition Council said on Tuesday.

Of the total number of investigations opened in 2023, more than 56% are cartel agreements.

The most important fines

The antimonopoly authority closed 14 investigations into violations of the Competition Act, imposing fines totaling 160 million lei (€32.1 million), of which 77% are sanctions applied to deals between companies.

• SEE THE 2023 COMPETITION COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENT

Among the most important fines:

• 123 million lei (25 million euros) to SEROM, Dante International SA, Altex Romania SRL and Flanco Retail SA for participating in an anti-competitive agreement in the market for the sale of televisions and mobile phones.
• 20.5 million lei (approximately 4.1 million euros) to the companies Dataware Consulting, Kontron Services Romania and Tema Energy for participating with falsified proposals in a tender organized by the Ministry of the Interior (MAI) for the creation of an e-services center. .
• 14.3 million lei (approximately €2.9 million) to the companies Albalact, Covalact and Dorna Lactate, part of the French group Lactalis, because they refused to provide access to certain information during unannounced inspections carried out as part of the investigation possible agreements on setting prices on the oil production and sales market.

In 2023, 20 surprise inspections were organized, the most in recent years, 75 companies and 90 facilities were inspected.

Unannounced inspections are authorized by the Bucharest Court of Appeal and are justified by the need to obtain all the information and documents necessary to clarify the possible anti-competitive practices being analyzed.

By the end of 2023, the Competition Council had 54 investigations into possible violations of competition law, of which 44% related to cartel agreements.