{"id":147098,"date":"2026-08-11T09:35:37","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T09:35:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/?post_type=comparative_guide&#038;p=147098"},"modified":"2026-08-11T09:35:37","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T09:35:37","slug":"romania-competition-litigation","status":"publish","type":"comparative_guide","link":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/chapter\/romania-competition-litigation\/","title":{"rendered":"Romania: Competition Litigation"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-147098","comparative_guide","type-comparative_guide","status-publish","hentry","guides-competition-litigation","jurisdictions-romania"],"acf":[],"appp":{"post_list":{"below_title":"<div class=\"guide-author-details\"><span class=\"guide-author\">Neagu Dinu Partners SPRL<\/span><span class=\"guide-author-logo\"><img src=\"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1\/2026\/08\/logo-9.jpg\"\/><\/span><\/div>"},"post_detail":{"above_title":"<div class=\"guide-author-details\"><span class=\"guide-author\">Neagu Dinu Partners SPRL<\/span><span class=\"guide-author-logo\"><img src=\"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1\/2026\/08\/logo-9.jpg\"\/><\/span><\/div>","below_title":"<span class=\"guide-intro\">This country specific Q&amp;A provides an overview of Competition Litigation laws and regulations applicable in Romania<\/span><div class=\"guide-content\"><div class=\"filter\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" placeholder=\"Search questions and answers...\" class=\"filter-container__search-field\">\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<ol class=\"custom-counter\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What types of conduct and causes of action can be relied upon as the basis of a competition damages claim?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Any person who has suffered harm caused by an infringement of competition law may claim full compensation before the Romanian courts. This covers infringements of Articles 101 and 102 TFEU as well as of their national equivalents, Article 5 (anticompetitive agreements and concerted practices, including cartels) and Article (abuse of a dominant position) of the Romanian Competition Law no. 21\/1996.<\/p>\n<p>The dedicated legal framework is Government Emergency Ordinance no. 170\/2020 (&#8220;GEO no. 170\/2020&#8221;), which transposes the EU Damages Directive and is supplemented by the Civil Code and the Civil Procedure Code. Claims may be brought as follow-on actions (relying on an infringement decision) or as stand-alone actions in tort for recovery of damages caused by anticompetitive conduct. In addition, agreements and contractual clauses that infringe competition law are null and void by operation of law (Article 52 of Law no. 21\/1996), which allows claimants to also seek restitution of amounts unduly paid.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What is required (e.g. in terms of procedural formalities and standard of pleading) in order to commence a competition damages claim?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>There are no special formalities and no mandatory pre-action procedure. The claimant files an ordinary statement of claim (similar to claims filed in commercial cases) and must pay the mandatory court fee calculated as a percentage of the amount claimed.<\/p>\n<p>In a follow-on action, the claimant can rely on the infringement decision, which considerably eases its evidentiary burden. In a stand-alone action, the claimant must plead and prove the infringement itself, together with the harm and the causal link.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What remedies are available to claimants in competition damages claims?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>The core remedy is damages, in order to put the injured party in the position it would have been in had the infringement not occurred. It covers actual loss, loss of profit and interest (Article 3(2) of GEO no. 170\/2020). Full compensation may not, however, lead to overcompensation: punitive or multiple damages are not available, and the award is capped at the harm actually suffered (Article 3(3) of GEO no. 170\/2020).<\/p>\n<p>Claimants may also invoke the annulment of entire anticompetitive agreements or clauses included in such agreements (Article 52 of Law no. 21\/1996) and claim restitution. Interim and precautionary measures (e.g. asset freezing) are available under the general rules of the Civil Procedure Code.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What is the measure of damages? To what extent is joint and several liability recognised in competition damages claims? Are there any exceptions (e.g. for leniency applicants)?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Damages are measured by comparing the claimant&#8217;s actual situation with the counterfactual scenario absent the infringement. Cartels are rebuttably presumed to have caused a 20% price overcharge (Article 16(2) of GEO no. 170\/2020) and abuses of dominance are presumed to cause harm (Article 16(3) of GEO no. 170\/2020).<\/p>\n<p>Undertakings that infringed competition law through joint conduct are jointly and severally liable, and the injured party may claim full compensation from any of them (Article 11(1) of GEO no. 170\/2020). There are two exceptions. First, an SME with a market share below 5% throughout the infringement, whose economic viability would be irreparably jeopardised by full solidarity, is liable only towards its own direct and indirect purchasers, unless it initiated the practice, coerced other undertakings to participate in or remain part of the infringement, or has previously been found to have infringed competition law (Article 11(2)\u2013(3) of GEO no. 170\/2020). Second, an immunity recipient is jointly and severally liable towards its own direct and indirect purchasers or suppliers, and towards other injured parties only where full compensation cannot be obtained from the other co-infringers (Article 11(4) of GEO no. 170\/2020).<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What are the relevant limitation periods for competition damages claims? How can they be suspended or interrupted?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>The limitation period is five years (Article 10(1) of GEO no. 170\/2020), by derogation from the general three-year rule in Romanian law. It only begins to run once the infringement has ceased and the claimant became aware or should reasonably have become aware of the fact that the conduct constitutes an infringement, the harm it suffered and the identity of the infringer.<\/p>\n<p>The period is suspended for the duration of any investigation or proceedings of a competition authority concerning the infringement. The suspension ends one year after the infringement decision becomes final or the proceedings are otherwise closed (Article 10(2) of GEO no. 170\/2020). It is also suspended during amicable dispute resolution, as between the participating parties (Article 10(4) of GEO no. 170\/2020).<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Which local courts and\/or tribunals deal with competition damages claims?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Competition damages claims fall within the exclusive first-instance jurisdiction of the Bucharest Tribunal. Its judgments may be appealed to the Bucharest Court of Appeal and the appellate decision may be challenged by a second appeal on points of law (<em>recurs<\/em>) before the High Court of Cassation and Justice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">How does the court determine whether it has jurisdiction over a competition damages claim?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Domestically, jurisdiction is centralised at the Bucharest Tribunal. In cross-border cases, international jurisdiction is determined under Regulation no. 1215\/2012 (\u201cBrussels I bis Regulation\u201d) at the defendant&#8217;s domicile (Article 4 of the Brussels I bis Regulation), at the place where the harmful event occurred or the affected market (Article 7(2) of the Brussels I bis Regulation) or applying the anchordefendant rule for co-defendants (Article 8(1) of the Brussels I bis Regulation). Where the defendant is not domiciled in an EU Member State, the international jurisdiction rules of the Civil Procedure Code apply.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">How does the court determine what law will apply to the competition damages claim?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>The applicable law is determined under Article 6(3) of Regulation no. 864\/2007 (\u201cRome II Regulation\u201d), namely the law of the country where the market is, or is likely to be, affected. If several markets are affected, a claimant suing in the courts of the defendant&#8217;s domicile may instead choose the law of the forum, provided that market was directly and substantially affected (Article 6(3)(b) of the Rome II Regulation). In purely domestic cases, Romanian law applies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What is the applicable standard of proof?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>The ordinary civil standard applies: the court freely assesses the evidence and must be convinced of the facts alleged (Article 264 of the Civil Procedure Code). The claimant bears the burden of proving the infringement (unless it is established by a binding decision), the harm and the causal link.<\/p>\n<p>This burden is alleviated by rebuttable presumptions: the 20% cartel overcharge presumption, the presumption of harm in abuse of dominance cases. The law also requires that neither the burden nor the standard of proof for quantification make the exercise of the right to compensation practically impossible or excessively difficult (Article 16(1) of GEO no. 170\/2020).<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">To what extent are local courts bound by the infringement decisions of (domestic or foreign) competition authorities?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>An infringement established by a final decision of the Romanian Competition Council or the European Commission, or by a final court judgment, is deemed irrefutably established for the court hearing the damages action (Article 9(1) of GEO no. 170\/2020). A final decision or judgment from another EU Member State constitutes rebuttable (prima facie) evidence of the infringement, to be assessed together with the other evidence (Article 9(2) of GEO no. 170\/2020). The courts&#8217; rights and obligations under Article 267 TFEU remain unaffected.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">To what extent can a private damages action proceed while related public enforcement action is pending? Is there a procedure permitting enforcers to stay a private action while the public enforcement action is pending?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>A private action, in particular a stand-alone claim, may proceed while public enforcement is pending; the claimant then bears the full burden of proving the infringement. There is no mandatory stay, but the court may stay the proceedings under the general rules of the Civil Procedure Code, if the court\u2019s judgement depends on the authority&#8217;s decision.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What, if any, mechanisms are available to aggregate competition damages claims (e.g. class actions, assignment\/claims vehicles, or consolidation of claims through case management)? What, if any, threshold criteria have to be met?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>There is no antitrust-specific class action mechanism in Romania. Claims are aggregated through the general tools of the Civil Procedure Code: several interested parties may sue together where their claims share the same cause or object or are closely connected (Article 59 of the Civil Procedure Code). Where claimants bring separate, but closely related cases, the court can consolidate them (Article 139 of the Civil Procedure Code), which is straightforward in practice, since all competition damages claims are concentrated before the Bucharest Tribunal. Claims may also be aggregated commercially: GEO no. 170\/2020 expressly contemplates actions brought by a person who has acquired the claim, including the acquisition of litigious rights (Article 2(a) of GEO no. 170\/2020), so the claims-vehicle model used in other Member States is available in principle, although it remains untested before the Romanian courts.<\/p>\n<p>Romania has transposed the Representative Actions Directive (EU) 2020\/1828 by Law no. 414\/2023, which allows qualified entities to bring opt-in redress actions on behalf of consumers. However, it does not cover competition law infringements and it is not available to business claimants, only to consumers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Are there any defences (e.g. pass on) which are unique to competition damages cases? Which party bears the burden of proof?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Yes. The defendant may raise the passing-on defence, arguing that the claimant passed on all or part of the overcharge to its own customers. The burden of proving passing-on lies with the defendant, which may seek information disclosure from the claimant or third parties (Article 13 of GEO no. 170\/2020).<\/p>\n<p>An indirect purchaser must prove that the overcharge was passed on to it. However, passing-on is presumed once it shows three things: the infringement, an overcharge paid by the direct purchaser, and its own purchase of the goods or services concerned (Article 14 of GEO no. 170\/2020). The defendant can rebut this presumption. The court may estimate how much of the overcharge was passed on (Article 12(5) of GEO no. 170\/2020) and may take into account related claims at other levels of the supply chain, so that the same harm is not compensated twice or left uncompensated (Article 15 of GEO no. 170\/2020).<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Is expert evidence permitted in competition litigation, and, if so, how is it used? Is the expert appointed by the court or the parties and what duties do they owe?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Expert evidence is permitted and can be used in practice for quantifying the harm. The main instrument is the judicial expertise ordered by the court (Article 330 et seq. of the Civil Procedure Code). The expert is appointed by the court from the official register, owes duties of independence and impartiality to the court and works on objectives set by the court after hearing the parties. Each party may designate its own advising expert to participate in the judicial expertise, and party-commissioned economic reports may be filed and are freely assessed by the court. In addition, the court may ask the Romanian Competition Council for assistance in determining the quantum of damages (Article 16(4) of GEO no. 170\/2020). In practice, the pool of judicial experts specialised in competition economics is limited, which makes the advising experts and party-commissioned economic reports all the more important.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Describe the trial process. Who is the decision-maker at trial? How is evidence dealt with? Is it written or oral, and what are the rules on cross-examination?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Cases are decided by judges, a single judge at first instance, two judges on appeal and a panel of three judges for the second appeal. There is no jury in Romanian court proceedings. The process is predominantly written: statement of claim, defence, reply, written submissions and documentary evidence, complemented by public oral hearings for evidence-taking and oral argument.<\/p>\n<p>Evidence typically consists of documents, judicial expert reports, witness testimony and the examination of the parties (<em>interogatoriu<\/em>). There is no common-law style cross-examination: questions to witnesses are asked with the permission and intermediation of the court, which freely assesses all the evidence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">How long does it typically take from commencing proceedings to get to trial? Is there an appeal process? How many levels of appeal are possible?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>First-instance proceedings before the Bucharest Tribunal typically take around two years, longer where complex economic expertise is ordered. Two levels of review follow: an appeal (<em>apel<\/em>) before the Bucharest Court of Appeal, which is a full review of facts and law, and a second appeal (<em>recurs<\/em>) before the High Court of Cassation and Justice, limited to points of law. A final outcome in a fully contested case, therefore, might need 4 to 6 years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Do leniency recipients receive any benefit in the damages litigation context?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Although the leniency recipient remains fully liable in damages, leniency comes with three benefits: the first is available to all leniency applicants, while the second and third are reserved for immunity recipients.<\/p>\n<p>First, leniency statements are protected: they cannot be disclosed (Article 6(9) of GEO no. 170\/2020) and, if obtained through access to the authority&#8217;s file, they are inadmissible (Article 7(1) of GEO no. 170\/2020).<\/p>\n<p>Second, an immunity recipient&#8217;s joint and several liability is limited: it answers primarily to its own direct and indirect purchasers or suppliers, and to other injured parties only where they cannot obtain full compensation from the other co-infringers (Article 11(4) of GEO no. 170\/2020).<\/p>\n<p>Third, in contribution proceedings, its share is capped at the harm it caused to its own direct or indirect purchasers or suppliers (Article 11(5)\u2013(6) of GEO no. 170\/2020).<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">How does the court approach the assessment of loss in competition damages cases? Are \u201cumbrella effects\u201d recognised? Is any particular economic methodology favoured by the court?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>The court has an express power to estimate the quantum where precise quantification is impossible or excessively difficult (Article 16(1) of GEO no. 170\/2020), aided by the rebuttable 20% cartel overcharge presumption (Article 16(2) of GEO no. 170\/2020). Quantification can rely on judicial economic expertise, however, no particular methodology is favoured &#8211; the methods in line with the European Commission&#8217;s Practical Guide are all available. The Commission&#8217;s 2019 Guidelines on the passing-on of overcharges provide further soft-law guidance.<\/p>\n<p>Umbrella effects are not expressly regulated, but they are consistent with the full compensation principle and the CJEU&#8217;s <em>Kone<\/em> judgment (C-557\/12).<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">How is interest calculated in competition damages cases?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Interest is an express component of full compensation (Article 3(2) of GEO no. 170\/2020). In practice, claimants seek statutory penalty interest under Government Ordinance no. 13\/2011, calculated as the National Bank of Romania reference rate plus four percentage points &#8211; currently 10.5% per year\u00a0 &#8211; accruing from the date the harm arose (or from each overcharge payment) until effective payment. As the rate follows the NBR reference rate, it varies over the accrual period.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Can a defendant seek contribution or indemnity from other defendants? On what basis is liability allocated between defendants?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Yes. A co-infringer that has compensated the injured party may bring a recourse action (<em>ac<\/em>\u021b<em>iune \u00een regres) <\/em>against the other co-infringers to recover their shares, which are determined according to each undertaking&#8217;s relative responsibility for the harm (Article 11(5) of GEO no. 170\/2020). The contribution owed by an immunity recipient is capped at the harm caused to its own direct or indirect purchasers or suppliers (Article 11(5)\u2013(6) of GEO no. 170\/2020), and no contribution may be recovered from a coinfringer that has settled, for the settled share (Article 17(3) of GEO no. 170\/2020). The Civil Code rules on solidary debtors apply in addition.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">In what circumstances, if any, can a competition damages claim be disposed of (in whole or in part) without a full trial?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Romanian procedure has no summary judgment, but claims can frequently be disposed of on preliminary pleas (excep\u021bii) &#8211; lack of jurisdiction, inadmissibility, lack of standing, limitation, etc.- decided before the merits.<\/p>\n<p>Proceedings may also end through the claimant&#8217;s withdrawal of the action or waiver of the claimed right, through acknowledgment of the claim or through a court-approved settlement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What, if any, mechanism is available for the collective settlement of competition damages claims? Can such settlements include parties outside of the jurisdiction?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>There is no dedicated collective settlement mechanism for competition damages. Settlements are concluded contractually or as court-approved judicial settlements (Articles 438\u2013441 of the Civil Procedure Code) and GEO no. 170\/2020 actively encourages them, as the court may stay proceedings for up to two years during consensual dispute resolution (Article 17(1) of GEO no. 170\/2020). Such settlements can include parties outside Romania.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What are the rules for disclosure of documents (including documents from the competition authority file or from other third parties)? Are there any exceptions (e.g. on grounds of privilege or confidentiality, or in respect of leniency or settlement materials)?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>On a reasoned request showing the plausibility of the claim, the court may order the disclosure of specified items or precisely delimited categories of evidence by the opposing party or third parties (Article 5 of GEO no. 170\/2020). Evidence from the NCA\u2019s file may be ordered only where it cannot be obtained elsewhere (Article 6(2) of GEO no. 170\/2020).<\/p>\n<p>Three tiers apply to authority-file material: leniency statements and settlement submissions can never be disclosed and are inadmissible if obtained through file access (Articles 6(9) and 7(1) of GEO no. 170\/2020); documents prepared specifically for the proceedings, information sent by the authority to the parties and withdrawn settlement submissions may be disclosed only after the authority has closed its proceedings (Article 6(8) of GEO no. 170\/2020); all other material may be disclosed at any time (Article 6(12) of GEO no. 170\/2020).<\/p>\n<p>Disclosure must respect professional secrecy (legal privilege) (Article 5(7) of GEO no. 170\/2020). In addition, documents from the competition authority file benefit from the protection of trade secrets and confidential information (Article 6(3) of GEO no. 170\/2020). Non-compliance, destruction of evidence or breach of confidentiality measures is sanctioned with court fines of RON 500\u20135,000 for individuals and 0.1%\u20131% of the previous year&#8217;s turnover for companies (Article 8 of GEO no. 170\/2020).<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What procedures, if any, are available to protect confidential or proprietary information disclosed during the court process?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>The court may order disclosure of confidential evidence subject to effective protective measures, including redaction of sensitive passages, non-public hearings, restriction of access to the parties&#8217; lawyers and designated experts (confidentiality rings), and expert reports drafted in a non-confidential form (Article 5(4)\u2013(5) of GEO no. 170\/2020). Business secrets from the authority&#8217;s file receive equivalent protection (Article 6(3)\u2013(4) of GEO no. 170\/2020). An undertaking&#8217;s interest in avoiding damages actions is expressly not a protected interest (Article 5(6) of GEO no. 170\/2020).<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Can litigation costs (e.g. legal, expert and court fees) be recovered from the other party? If so, how are costs calculated, and are there any circumstances in which costs recovery can be limited?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Yes &#8211; the losing party bears the costs (Article 453 of the Civil Procedure Code), including court (stamp) fees, expert fees and lawyers&#8217; fees, provided they are proven and were actually incurred. The court may reduce lawyers&#8217; fees that are manifestly disproportionate to the value and complexity of the case (Article 451(2) of the Civil Procedure Code).<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Are third parties permitted to fund competition litigation? If so, are there any restrictions on this, and can third party funders be made liable for the other party\u2019s costs? Are lawyers permitted to act on a contingency or conditional fee basis?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Third-party funding is permitted but not specifically regulated. It can be structured contractually as a funding agreement under which the funder shares in the loss or benefit of the outcome of the litigation, or as an assignment of the claim to a litigation vehicle, which GEO no. 170\/2020 expressly recognises.<\/p>\n<p>Specific restrictions exist only for consumer representative actions under Law no. 414\/2023 (no conflicts of interest and disclosure of funding sources to the court).<\/p>\n<p>Since the funder is not a party to the proceedings, the court cannot order the funder to pay the other side\u2019s costs. The funder\u2019s exposure is a matter of contract.<\/p>\n<p>Lawyers cannot not act on a pure contingency basis, as per rules of the legal profession. A success fee is permitted only as a supplement to a retainer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What, in your opinion, are the main obstacles to litigating competition damages claims?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>In our view, the main obstacle is the information asymmetry between claimants and infringers: the evidence of an anticompetitive practice lies almost entirely in the infringers&#8217; hands. GEO no. 170\/2020 was designed precisely to redress this imbalance, through court-ordered disclosure, the binding effect of infringement decisions and presumptions of harm. Precedent is still limited and the courts have yet to clarify the application of these tools. In follow-on cases, the length of public enforcement proceedings, which annulment actions may further extend, is a factor claimants should plan for. Nevertheless, the suspension of limitation during these proceedings is a welcome provision in such cases. Other practical constraints include the ad valorem court fees for high-value claims and the limited pool of experts able to run complex quantification exercises.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What, in your opinion, are likely to be the most significant developments affecting competition litigation in the next five years?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>In our view, private competition enforcement in Romania is only now beginning, and the next five years will see: (i) the first real body of case law under GEO no. 170\/2020, as the courts move to deciding damages claims on the merits and on appeal; (ii) the emergence of follow-on litigation on the back of the NCA&#8217;s increasingly assertive enforcement, notably, fining decisions based on leniency and\/or admission of infringement (i.e. the labour market decision), as well as several fining decisions being upheld on appeal (e.g. the financial leasing decision); (iii) the gradual arrival of the infrastructure seen in more mature jurisdictions, such as claims aggregation, third-party funding and economic expert evidence; and (iv) a growing role for consensual resolution, encouraged by the settlement and finemitigation mechanisms of GEO no. 170\/2020.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n<div class=\"word-count-hidden\" style=\"display:none;\">Estimated word count: <span class=\"word-count\">3645<\/span><\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/ol>\r\n\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/twentyseventeen\/src\/jquery\/components\/filter-guides.js\" async><\/script><\/div>"}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comparative_guide\/147098","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comparative_guide"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/comparative_guide"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=147098"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}