Competition Law at Poland
Sure! Here's an overview of Competition Law in Poland:
⚖️ Legal Framework
The primary legislation governing competition law in Poland is the Act of 16 February 2007 on Competition and Consumer Protection (the Competition and Consumer Protection Act).
This law aligns closely with the European Union’s competition rules, as Poland is an EU member state.
The Act implements EU rules on antitrust, merger control, and abuse of dominant position.
📜 Key Provisions
Anticompetitive Agreements
Prohibits agreements between enterprises that prevent, restrict, or distort competition.
This includes cartels (price-fixing, market sharing), and other restrictive practices.
Abuse of Dominant Position
Firms holding a dominant market position must not abuse it, e.g., through unfair pricing, limiting production, or discriminatory practices.
Merger Control
Requires notification and clearance of mergers that meet specific thresholds related to turnover or market share.
The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) reviews mergers to prevent market dominance that could harm competition.
Unfair Competition
The Act also addresses unfair competition practices and consumer protection measures.
🏢 Enforcement Authority
The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) is Poland's national competition authority.
UOKiK investigates antitrust violations, enforces merger control, and has powers to impose fines (up to 10% of annual turnover).
It also cooperates with the European Commission and other EU competition authorities.
🔍 Recent Trends and Focus
UOKiK actively prosecutes cartel cases and abuses of dominance.
Increased scrutiny of digital markets and tech companies.
Strong enforcement of merger regulations to maintain market competition.
Collaboration with EU authorities to align with broader EU competition policy.
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