The Competition Council has examined and concluded that since 1998 to 2011 (13 years period) the Lithuanian Shipbrokers and Agents Association and a part of its members had been agreed to apply minimal ship agency tariffs and to monitor the compliance thereof. These actions constituted an infringement of Article 5 of the Law on Competition, which prohibits competition restricting agreements such as agreements among competitors to fix prices. Furthermore, infringement of Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union has been also established. more »

In its hearing of 22 November the Competition Council having assessed the commitments provided by Viasat World Limited terminated the investigation concerning the actions of Viasat World Limited and Viasat AS (further – VIASAT) as to their compliance with the requirements of Article 9 of the Law on Competition of the Republic of Lithuania. It was also acknowledged that there were no legal grounds to continue the investigation as to compliance with the requirements of Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. more »

In accordance with international best practice the Competition Council for the first time carried out an impact assessment of its activities on consumers. The published results demonstrate that the benefits provided to consumers as a result of the activities of the Competition Council are more than forty times higher than the annual budget of the institution. more »

On 29-30 September 2011, the 8^th Regional Competition Conference was held in Vilnius University. Three Plenary sessions included 10 presentations, followed by closing Roundtable discussions and working groups meetings. more »

Vilnius Regional Administrative Court by its ruling of 12 September dismissed as unfounded AB Lietuvos draudimas and UAB DK PZU Lietuva complaint whereby the companies requested the Court to repeal the Resolution of the Competition Council of the Republic of Lithuania passed in their respect. Having examined the arguments provided by the applicants the Court acknowledged the validity and legality of the Competition Council’s Resolution of 23 December 2010 whereby it was recognised that AB Lietuvos draudimas and UAB DK PZU Lietuva having concluded the competition restricting insurance pool agreement concerning the compulsory insurance for the civil liability of building designer and contractor had infringed the requirements of Article 5 of the Law on Competition and Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. more »

On 23 August 2011, former Head of Law and Competition Policy Division Elonas Šatas was appointed Member of the Competition Council of the Republic of Lithuania for a six-year term by Decree No. 1K-802 of the President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė on the proposal of the Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius. more »

By its Decision of 23 June 2011, the Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania (SACL) confirmed that the Competition Council had legitimately imposed the fines upon UAB Forum Cinemas Home Entertainment, UAB Palink, UAB GPP, UAB Media Incognito and UAB Elektromarktas for entering into prohibited agreements to fix resale prices of films sold in DVD and VHS formats. The agreements concluded by UAB Forum Cinemas Home Entertainment with other mentioned companies to fix minimum and recommended resale prices of film records were regarded as infringing the requirements of Article 5 of the Law on Competition. In respect of the companies that lodged the appeals against the Decision of the Competition Council, the Court have slightly decreased the fines, and referred the issue on the legitimacy of the fines imposed upon UAB Interatlas and UAB Bomba to the Court of First Instance for consideration. more »