The Legal 500

The Office for the Protection of Economic Competition (hereinafter the „Office“) issued the historically first decision concerning domestic cartel among suppliers competing for public contract (bid rigging) case. The case is interesting not only because it is the first such case in the Czech Republic, but could indicate how the Office will proceed in such cases and in the proving of such cartels.

The Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council 2006/123/EC of 12 December 2006, on services in the internal market ("Directive" or "Directive on services") substantially develops the freedom of establishment and freedom of cross-border provision of services under Articles 43 and 49 of the EC treaty. The Directive applies to all types of services except those which are expressly excluded. In the Czech Republic, the Directive on services was implemented by Act No. 222/2009 Coll., on Free Movement of Services that came into force on December 28, 2009.

In the Czech Republic , the heavily debated and controversial act on significant market power in the sale of agricultural and food products, and its abuse, came into force at the beginning of the last year. The aim of the act is to regulate retailers’ (mainly huge multinational retail chains) purchasing power over suppliers of food and agricultural products. An action has been filed in Brussels in which businesses request proceedings be brought against the Czech Republic, arguing that the act is incompatible with EU competition law.