Romania

The Competition Council is an independent authority with full investigative, decision-making, and sanctioning powers. Appeals go to the Bucharest Court of Appeal.

Article 5 of Competition Law 21/1996 prohibits horizontal cartels including price-fixing, market allocation, and bid-rigging. Major fines in oil and gas, retail, and IT sectors.

Vertical restraints are prohibited under Article 5 where they restrict competition. Active enforcement against resale price maintenance and territorial restrictions.

Article 6 prohibits abuse of dominant position. Cases have targeted incumbents in energy, telecoms, and waste management sectors.

Mandatory pre-notification for concentrations exceeding turnover thresholds (combined worldwide turnover of EUR 10 million and combined Romanian turnover of EUR 4 million). Phase I/II review.

Full immunity or reduced fines under the Competition Council leniency programme. Aligned with the ECN Model Leniency Programme. Growing use in cartel investigations.

Settlement procedure allows fine reductions of up to 10%. Commitment decisions available to close cases with binding undertakings.

Fines up to 10% of worldwide turnover. Individual fines for directors and managers. Enhanced penalty provisions following ECN+ transposition.

Romania applies the EU Digital Markets Act. The Competition Council monitors digital markets and has begun investigating platform competition issues.

ANCOM (telecoms), ANRE (energy), and the National Bank of Romania exercise concurrent regulatory powers. The Competition Council retains primary antitrust jurisdiction.

The Competition Council conducts dawn raids with judicial authorisation. Powers include access to premises, seizure of documents, and copying of electronic data.

Private damages actions available following transposition of the EU Damages Directive. Civil courts have jurisdiction for competition damages claims.

Active member of the ECN, ICN, and OECD observer. Close cooperation with the European Commission and other CEE competition authorities.

Focus on bid-rigging in public procurement, oil and gas sector cartels, retail market practices, and IT services. Growing enforcement sophistication following ECN+ transposition.