Sweden

Konkurrensverket investigates and brings cases before the Patent and Market Court. Appeals to the Patent and Market Court of Appeal. The authority also handles public procurement oversight.

Chapter 2, Section 1 of the Competition Act prohibits horizontal cartels. Significant cases in asphalt, moving services, construction, and petrol distribution.

Vertical restraints prohibited under Chapter 2, Section 1. Focus on resale price maintenance, territorial restrictions, and online sales platform restrictions.

Chapter 2, Section 7 prohibits abuse of dominant position. Important cases against state-owned enterprises, energy incumbents, and telecoms operators.

Mandatory pre-notification for concentrations where combined turnover exceeds SEK 1 billion and at least two parties have individual Swedish turnover exceeding SEK 200 million. Phase I/II review.

Full immunity or reduced fines under the Konkurrensverket leniency guidelines. Aligned with the ECN Model Leniency Programme. Active use in cartel investigations.

Commitment decisions available under the Competition Act. The authority may accept binding commitments to resolve cases. Settlement discussions with undertakings on penalty amounts before court.

Competition damages fines (konkurrensskadeavgift) up to 10% of group turnover, imposed by the Patent and Market Court. Trading prohibition (naringsforebudslagen) available for individuals involved in cartels.

Konkurrensverket applies general competition rules to digital markets. The EU DMA applies directly. The authority has published studies on digital platforms and competition.

PTS (telecoms and post), Energimarknadsinspektionen (energy), Finansinspektionen (financial markets), and Transportstyrelsen (transport) exercise concurrent regulatory powers.

Konkurrensverket conducts dawn raids with authorisation from the Stockholm District Court. Powers include access to premises, seizure of documents, copying of electronic data, and sealing of offices.

Private damages actions available under the Competition Damages Act (2016:964) transposing the EU Damages Directive. Patent and Market Court has exclusive jurisdiction.

Active in ECN, ICN, and OECD. Nordic cooperation framework with Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, and Icelandic authorities. Regular joint initiatives and information exchange.

Focus on public procurement bid-rigging, construction sector cartels, and food supply chain competition. Market studies in healthcare, waste management, and digital services. Increased court litigation.