CONSILIUL CONCURENEI

COMPETITION COUNCIL
CUPRINS

CUVNT INAINTE

INTRODUCERE

Cap. I. CONCURENA NOUTI LEGISLATIVE I EVOLUII

Nouti legislative n domeniul concurenei
Implementarea legislaiei n domeniul concurenei evoluii recente
Acte emise de Consiliul Concurenei n baza Legii concurenei republicat,
contestate n instan

CAP. II. AJUTORUL DE STAT NOUTI LEGISLATIVE I EVOLUII

Noi reglementri n domeniul ajutorului de stat
Evoluii n domeniul ajutorului de stat

CAP. III. PREVALENA LEGISLAIEI N DOMENIUL CONCURENEI ASUPRA

LEGISLAIEI MEDIULUI DE AFACERI I ASUPRA LEGISLAIEI CARE INSTITUIE
MSURI DE NATURA AJUTORULUI DE STAT
Consultri ex-ante
Emiterea de avize i formularea de puncte de vedere asupra actelor normative

CAP. IV. ACTIVITATEA CONSILIULUI CONCURENEI N DOMENIUL

INTEGRRII EUROPENE I AL RELAIILOR INTERNAIONALE
Consiliul Concurenei observator la procesul decizional comunitar
Relaii multilaterale
Relaii bilaterale

CAP. V. PROMOVAREA CULTURII CONCURENEI

Activitatea de promovare a culturii concurenei reflectat la nivel central i
teritorial
Publicaii i materiale informative ale Consiliului Concurenei parte integrant a
promovrii culturii concurenei
Relaia Consiliului Concurenei cu mass - media

CAP. VI. CONSOLIDAREA CAPACITII ADMINISTRATIVE

CAP. VII. VIZIUNE PROSPECTIV

ANEXE
TABLE OF CONTENT

FOREWORD

INTRODUCTION

Chapter I. COMPETITION NEW LEGISLATION AND DEVELOPMENTS

New legislation in the field of competition
Implementation of the competition legislation recent developments
Acts issued by the Competition Council based on the republished Competition
Law and challenged in court

Chapter II. STATE AID NEW LEGISLATION AND DEVELOPMENTS

New regulations in the field of State aid
Recent developments in the field of State aid

Chapter III. PREVALENCE OF LEGISLATION IN THE FIELD OF COMPETITION

OVER THE BUSINESS LEGISLATION AND OVER THE LEGISLATION
INSTITUTING MEASURES OF STATE AID NATURE
Ex-ante consultations
Binding opinions and points of view on normative acts

Chapter IV. THE ACTIVITY OF THE COMPETITION COUNCIL IN THE AREA

OF EU INTEGRATION AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS
The Competition Council observer to the Community decision-making
process
Multilateral relations
Bilateral relations

Chapter V. COMPETITION ADVOCACY

The competition advocacy activity reflected at central and local level
Publications and informative documents of the Competition Council part of
the competition advocacy activity
The Competition Council's relation with the mass-media

Chapter VI. CONSOLIDATION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY

Chapter VII. PROSPECTIVE OVERVIEW

ANNEXES
 CUVNT NAINTE

Pentru Consiliul Concurenei, anul 2006 a consemnat accelerarea

eforturilor depuse n procesul aderrii europene, din perspectiva
politicii concurenei i ajutorului de stat. n calitatea sa de
integrator al Capitolului 6 de negociere: Politica n domeniul
concurenei, Consiliul Concurenei a acionat cu profesionalism
pentru ndeplinirea obiectivelor sale prioritare i pentru
dezvoltarea dialogului cu autoritile romne.

Rezultatele obinute n domeniul concurenei i ajutorului de stat

au fost evideniate n Rapoartele de Monitorizare a stadiului
pregtirii Romniei pentru statutul de membru al Uniunii
Europene, care au scos n eviden progresele n sfera concurenei
i ajutorului de stat, din perspectiva aplicrii legislaiei i promovrii
regulilor specifice.

Concurena a devenit unul dintre capitolele considerate pe drumul

cel bun i nu a mai ridicat probleme sub nici un aspect datorit
progreselor realizate. Acest lucru constituie cea mai bun dovad a
credibilitii pe care a dobndit-o autoritatea de concuren din
Romnia.

Dei, n timp, au existat dubii cu privire la capacitatea Romniei de

a atinge standarde europene n domeniul concurentei, acestea au
fost spulberate i nu s-a pus problema activrii clauzei de
salvgardare. Fr o abordare coerent, armonizat, la nivelul
economiei romnesti, problemele complexe de concurent ar fi
fost dificil de rezolvat. Unul din elementele pozitive, poate cel mai
important, este c s-a neles imperativul respectrii regulilor de
concuren i a celor viznd acordarea ajutorului de stat fr a
nclca principiile europene.

Alexe GAVRIL
Preedinte interimar al Consiliul Concurenei

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FOREWORD

For the Competition Council, 2006 brought an acceleration of the

efforts undertaken towards EU accession in the areas of antitrust
and State aid. As coordinating authority for Chapter 6 of the
accession negotiations Competition policy, the Competition
Council carried out its activities in a professional manner so to be
able to fulfil its strategic objectives and to develop a strong dialogue
with the Romanian authorities.

The results achieved in the field of antitrust and State aid were
underlined in the Reports that monitored Romania's readiness for
EU membership. These Reports emphasized the good
developments that occurred on antitrust and State aid as concerns
the enforcement and advocacy of the specific rules.

Competition policy became one of the domains considered to be

on a good path of development and, due to the progress attained, it
ceased to raise any other problems for the accession process. This
outcome represented the best indication of the credibility gained
by the Romanian competition authority.

Despite the fact that doubts were raised in the past as concerns
Romania's capacity to reach European standards in the field of
competition, these concerns were permanently removed and a
possible application of the safeguard clause was eliminated.
Without a coherent, harmonised approached at the level of the
Romanian economy, the complex competition issues would have
been difficult to tackle. Probably the most important positive
aspect consisted in the fact that all parties involved understood the
imperativeness of observing the antitrust and State aid rules
without breaching the European principles.

Alexe GAVRIL
a.i. President of the Competition Council

5
 Anul 2006 a consemnat pentru autoritatea romn de concuren INTRODUCERE
6

accentuarea eforturilor depuse pentru ndeplinirea obiectivelor

sale prioritare, care au vizat continuarea mbuntirii aplicrii
legislaiei, ntrirea controlului ajutoarelor de stat, adaptarea
legislaiei secundare la evoluiile acquis-ului comunitar,
continuarea consolidrii capacitii administrative, extinderea i
valorificarea relaiilor stabilite cu organisme internaionale i
comunitare, precum i cu autoritile naionale de concuren din
statele membre UE.

Consiliul Concurenei a continuat s-i exercite rolul n

promovarea i dezvoltarea culturii concurenei. Prin aplicarea
unei strategii de promovare a culturii concurenei, orientat spre
grupuri-int, Consiliul Concurenei a acionat pentru creterea
gradului de cunoatere a regulilor specifice din domeniu.

Progresele n domeniul concurenei nu au ntrziat s apar. n

rapoartele comprehensive de monitorizare ale Comisiei Europene
s-a specificat c Romnia a fcut progrese remarcabile n
ndeplinirea obligaiilor sale asumate la capitolul concuren i
ncadreaz domeniul antitrust n categoria celor fr probleme
(zona verde).

Aciunile ntreprinse de Consiliul Concurenei, cu sprijinul

autoritilor implicate n iniierea i acordarea de ajutor de stat, au
condus la recunoaterea de ctre Comisia European a
progreselor realizate de Romnia n implementarea regulilor
privind ajutorul de stat i la ieirea acestui domeniu din zona
critic, marcat de forul european cu stegulee roii.

Progresele nregistrate nc din anul 2005 au fost continuate,

astfel nct, n Raportul de monitorizare din mai 2006, Comisia
European a apreciat c Romnia are capacitatea de a
implementa legislaia privind ajutorul de stat i c respect
angajamentele asumate prin Tratatul de aderare la Uniunea
European.

n Raportul de monitorizare din septembrie 2006, Comisia

European a apreciat c Romnia a continuat s fac progrese
deosebite n domeniul aplicrii regulilor ajutorului de stat,
calitatea i independena evalurilor i analizei msurilor de ajutor
de stat fcute de Consiliului Concurenei rmnnd
satisfactoare.

Principala consecin a acestor aprecieri o reprezint intrarea

ntr-o nou faz de cooperare ntre Consiliul Concurenei i
Comisia European, n cadrul procedurii interimare, care
permite acordarea, i dup data aderrii, de ajutoare de stat
autorizate anterior de Consiliul Concurenei.

Eforturile Consiliului Concurenei au beneficiat de sprijinul

autoritilor guvernamentale, ale iniiatorilor i furnizorilor de
ajutor de stat care au neles c respectarea regulilor jocului i
cooperarea strns cu autoritatea de concuren reprezint
premisele eseniale pentru ndeplinirea obiectivului aderrii la 1
ianuarie 2007.

Pentru a atinge standardele de performan propuse, activitatea

Consiliului Concurenei n anul 2006 s-a axat pe urmtoarele
obiective specifice:

6
INTRODUCTION For the Romanian competition authority, 2006 brought an

6
increase of the efforts undertaken towards fulfilling the institution's
strategic objectives: further improvement of the legislative
enforcement, strengthening of the State aid control, full alignment
of the secondary legislation to the Community acquis, further
consolidation of the administrative capacity, extension and a good
implementation of the relations established with specialised
international and Community organisations and with EU national
competition authorities.

The Competition Council continued to perform its role in the

promotion and development of the competition culture. By
applying a strategy for competition advocacy, oriented towards
target groups, the Competition Council acted to increase their
general knowledge vis--vis the specific competition rules.

The progress in the area of competition came out as expected. The

European Commission's Comprehensive Monitoring Reports
indicated that Romania made considerable progress in fulfilling
the commitments undertaken under the competition chapter
and included the area of antitrust in the category that did not
raise any problem for the accession process (the green flag
category).

The actions of the Competition Council, with the support of the

authorities involved in initiating and granting of State aid, led to the
recognition by the European Commission of the progress
accomplished by Romania in the implementation of the State
aid rules and helped this domain to find its way out of that
critical zone marked by the European executive body with red
flags.

The progress of 2005 was further maintained. Thus, in the

Monitoring Report of May 2006, the European Commission
considered that Romania had the capacity to implement the
State aid legislation and that our country observed the
commitments included in the EU Accession Treaty.

In the Monitoring Report of September 2006, the European

Commission considered that Romania continued to make
important progress as concerns the enforcement of the State aid
rules and the quality and independence of the Competition
Council's State aid assessment and analysis had remained
satisfactory.

The main consequence of these considerations was

represented by the entry into a new phase of cooperation
between the Competition Council and the European
Commission, under the interim procedure. This mechanism
has enabled Romania to grant after accession State aid
previously authorised by the Competition Council.

The efforts of the Competition Council benefited of the

governmental authorities' support as the State aid initiators and
grantors understood that the observance of the relevant rules and
the close cooperation with the competition authority were
essential grounds for fulfilling the objective of joining the European
Union on the 1st of January 2007.

So to be able to reach the planned standards of performance, the

activity of the Competition Council in 2006 mainly focused on the
following specific objectives:

7
 a) Evoluii legislative
6

Consiliul Concurenei a urmrit permanent evoluiile legislative nregistrate la nivelul Uniunii Europene, n
scopul armonizrii legislaiei secundare naionale cu cea comunitar.

n domeniul ajutorului de stat, odat cu aderarea Romniei la Uniunea European, competenele n ceea ce
privete autorizarea ajutoarelor de stat se tranfer ctre Comisia European, iar legislaia secundar
comunitar devine direct aplicabil. n acest sens, pentru a asigura o mai mare certitudine cu privire la cadrul
legal aplicabil, Consiliul Concurenei a abrogat n mod expres regulamentele i instruciunile care dublau
legislaia comunitar.

Un aspect deosebit de important a fost reprezentat de adoptarea OUG nr.117/2006 privind procedurile
naionale n materia ajutorului de stat. Pentru a veni n ntmpinarea cerinelor europene n materie de ajutor
de stat, Consiliul Concurenei s-a implicat activ n elaborarea Politicii n domeniul ajutorului de stat pentru
perioada 2006-2013. Acest document strategic creeaz un cadru adecvat pentru o mai bun utilizare a
resurselor statului, prin acordarea n mod transparent a ajutoarelor de stat, orientate cu prioritate ctre
obiectivele care genereaz cretere economic i contribuie la crearea de locuri de munc.

b) mbuntirea capacitii administrative a Consiliului Concurenei

Avnd n vedere rolul su n asigurarea bunei funcionri a economiei de pia, dar i angajamentele asumate
de Romnia n vederea aderrii la Uniunea European, Consiliul Concurenei a acordat o importan
deosebit dezvoltrii i consolidrii capacitii sale administrative. Prin aciuni specifice constnd n seminarii,
dezbateri inter i intra-departamentale, cursuri de pregtire, vizite de studiu .a., Consiliul Concurenei a
urmrit asigurarea mbuntirii pregtirii profesionale a personalului propriu, astfel nct acesta s fie capabil
s lucreze la standarde comunitare, n parteneriat cu Comisia European i cu instituiile omoloage din statele
membre ale Uniunii Europene. Inspectorii de concuren au participat la diverse stagii de pregtire la Comisia
European, la seminarii i conferine organizate de structuri internaionale sau autoriti de concuren din
statele membre ale Uniunii Europene.

Demersurile Consiliului Concurenei n direcia mbuntirii capacitii sale de implementare a legislaiei

relevante au fost sprijinite direct i continuu att de Guvern, prin alocarea de mijloace financiare adecvate
ndeplinirii obiectivelor (34.6 mil.lei), ct i de ctre Comisia European i de ctre ali experi strini, n special
prin acordarea de asisten tehnic i training.

Pentru a-i avea ca parteneri reali de dialog pe teme de interes comun, Consiliul Concurenei a fost preocupat i
de mbuntirea pregtirii profesionale a specialitilor din alte instituii implicai n aspecte legate de
concuren sau de ajutor de stat. Cele 20 de ntlniri ntre reprezentanii autoritii de concuren i cei ai altor
autoriti publice, care au avut loc n cadrul grupurilor interministeriale de lucru pe probleme de concuren i
ajutor de stat, precum i unele dintre aciunile organizate n baza protocoalelor de colaborare, ncheiate de
Consiliul Concurenei cu autoriti de reglementare i alte instituii sau organizaii non-guvernamentale, au
avut ca scop i realizarea acestui obiectiv.

c) Promovarea culturii concurenei

Avnd convingerea c aciunile de promovare a culturii concurenei contribuie semnificativ la cunoaterea i

respectarea regulilor de concuren i, implicit, la buna funcionare a pieelor, Consiliul Concurenei a acordat,
n anul 2006, o importan sporit acestei activiti.

Aciunile de promovare a culturii concurenei au fost direcionate ctre toate structurile societii interesate
sau implicate, respectiv ctre mediul de afaceri, sistemul judectoresc, mediul academic, instituii publice,
consumatori, mass-media. Publicaiile Consiliului Concurenei, pliantele i alte documente informative,
elaborate n cursul anului 2006, au fost diseminate fie cu ocazia diferitelor aciuni de promovare a culturii
concurenei (seminarii, conferine, .a.), fie au fost transmise direct colaboratorilor. n plus, toate actele
normative relevante, deciziile i publicaiile Consiliului Concurenei, precum i multe alte informaii pot fi
accesate permanent pe site-ul instituiei.

Transparena a constituit i n anul 2006 una dintre regulile de baz n activitatea Consiliului Concurenei. n
acest scop, pagina web a instituiei a fost permanent actualizat, informaiile relevante fiind disponibile att n
limba romn, ct i n limba englez. Pagina web a insituiei conine un forum, astfel nct orice parte
interesat s poat solicita informaiile necesare i poate semnala orice aspecte legate de domeniul
concurenei i ajutorului de stat.

8
a) Legislative developments

6
The Competition Council has permanently scrutinised the EU legislative developments so to ensure the
harmonisation of the national secondary legislation with the Community rules.

In the State aid field, as of Romania's accession to the European Union the competence for State aid
authorisation has been transferred to the European Commission and the Community secondary legislation has
become directly applicable in our legal system. As a consequence, in order to give more certainty to the
applicable legislative framework, the Competition Council explicitly repealed those national Regulation and
Guidelines that were overlapping with the Community acquis.

A very important aspect consisted in the adoption of the Emergency Government Ordinance no.117/2006 on
the national procedures in the State aid field. Also, in order to meet the European requirements in the State aid
field, the Competition Council was actively involved in the elaboration of the 2006-2013 National State aid
Policy Paper. This strategic document created a proper framework for a better use of the State's resources by
ensuring that the aids are transparently granted and mainly oriented towards those objectives that generate
economic growth and additional jobs.

b) Improvement of the Competition Council's administrative capacity

Having in view its role in the proper functioning of the market economy, as well as the commitments
undertaken by Romania in the context of EU accession, the Competition Council paid a particular attention to
the development and consolidation of its administrative capacity. Through specific activities such as seminars,
inter and intra-departmental debates, internships, study visits etc, the Competition Council aimed to improve
the expertise of its staff so to allow it to work by EU standards in close cooperation with the European
Commission and with similar authorities from the EU Member States. The competition inspectors participated
in various internships at the European Commission, in seminars and conferences organised by international
organisations or competition authorities from EU Member States.

The measures taken by the Competition Council towards improving its capacity to implement the relevant
legislation were directly and continuously sustained by the Government through the allocation of proper
financial means (34.6 million lei) required for the fulfilment of the institution's objectives. Also, the European
Commission and various foreign experts supported the Competition Council's activity especially by providing
technical assistance and training.

The Competition Council was also interested to improve the expertise of the specialists from other institutions
involved in antitrust and State aid matters in order to have these authorities as real partners of dialogue on
topics of common interest. This objective was achieved through more than 20 meetings organised between the
competition inspectors and the representatives of other involved public authorities in the framework of the
inter-ministerial working groups on competition and State aid, as well as through some of the activities
organised under the cooperation protocols concluded by the Competition Council with regulators and non-
governmental institutions and organisations.

c) Competition advocacy

Having in view that competition advocacy significantly contributes to an improved knowledge and a proper
observance of the competition rules and, implicitly, to a better functioning of the markets, in 2006 the
Competition Council gave an increased attention to this activity.

The competition advocacy activities targeted all interested or involved parts of the society, respectively the
business environment, judiciary, academic environment, public institutions, consumers, mass-media. The
Competition Council's publications, leaflets and other informative documents elaborated in 2006 were either
disseminated during various competition advocacy activities (seminars, conferences etc) or directly forwarded
to our partners. Moreover, all relevant normative acts, the Competition Council's decisions and publications, as
well as other specific information can be permanently accessed via the institution's website.

Transparency was one of the basic rules in the activity of the Competition Council in 2006. To this end, the
institution's website was permanently up-dated, the relevant information being available both in Romanian
and English. The website has a forum where all interested parties can ask for the necessary information and
indicate any aspect that is relevant for the competition and State aid areas.

9
 Dialogul permanent cu mass-media a fost dezvoltat n anul 2006. Astfel, au fost realizate i reflectate n
6

cotidiene i periodice cu acoperire naional, articole i suplimente speciale cu tematic specific i de

actualitate n domeniul concurenei i ajutorului de stat.

d) Implementarea legislaiei n domeniul concurenei i ajutorului de stat

Pentru a asigura prevalena regulilor de concuren asupra oricrei legislaii care conine prevederi cu posibil
impact anticoncurenial, Consiliul Concurenei a intervenit activ n procesul de reglementare normativ.
Astfel, Consiliul Concurenei a emis n anul 2006, 70 de avize i 26 de puncte de vedere i a intervenit pentru
modificarea a 13 acte normative care conineau prevederi cu posibil impact anticoncurenial.

n scopul eficientizrii analizei privind impactul asupra concurenei a reglementrilor privind alte domenii,
Consiliul Concurenei a utilizat ca instrument Analiza de Impact a Reglementrii (AIR). n vederea evitrii
introducerii unor prevederi contrare regulilor de concuren n actele normative care reglementeaz alte
domenii, un reprezentant al Consiliului Concurenei a participat la ntlnirile pregtitoare ale edintelor de
Guvern, n care se dezbat actele normative ce urmeaz a fi incluse pe ordinea de zi a edinelor de Guvern.

n anul 2006, Consiliul Concurenei i-a concentrat atenia asupra celor mai importante cazuri de distorsiune a
mediului concurenial i a utilizat puterile conferite de lege n acest sens, inclusiv inspeciile inopinate,
declannd 10 investigaii n domeniul antitrust, respectiv 3 investigaii n domeniul ajutorului de stat.

n scopul descurajrii faptelor de nclcare a regulilor de concuren, Consiliul Concurenei a nsprit politica
de sancionare a cazurilor grave constatate. n aceste condiii, nivelul amenzilor totale aplicate n anul 2006 a
fost de cca. 15,7 mil euro, din care peste 95% reprezint sanciuni pentru nelegeri anticoncureniale i pentru
abuz de poziie dominant.

n domeniul ajutorului de stat, aciunile Consiliului Concurenei au fost ndreptate spre urmrirea i controlul
ajutoarelor de care au beneficiat operatorii economici, autoritatea de concuren dispunnd, prin deciziile
sale, recuperarea ajutoarelor ilegale i incompatibile, precum i a celor acordate peste limita maxim admis a
intensitii, valoarea total a acestora ridicndu-se, pn la finele anului 2006, la cca. 23,4 mil.euro.

Sporirea calitii deciziilor privind ajutorul de stat a reprezentat, de asemenea, o preocupare permanent a
Consiliului Concurenei. n vederea eficientizrii activitii sale de analiz, investigare i decizie n domeniul
ajutorului de stat, Consiliul Concurenei a specializat inspectorii de concuren pe tipuri de ajutor de stat i,
pentru soluionarea unor cazuri concrete, a intensificat contactele directe dintre experii romni i cei strini,
cu bogat experien n domeniu.

Eforturile instituiei n aceast direcie au fost sprijinite substanial de experii Comisiei Europene n cadrul
mecanismului de pre-consultare, prin intermediul cruia, proiectele de decizie n materie de ajutor de stat ale
Consiliului Concurenei au fcut obiectul unor consultri bilaterale cu experii comunitari.

Pentru a asigura respectarea de ctre furnizorii de ajutor de stat a obligaiei notificrii ex-ante, Consiliul
Concurenei a intensificat contactele directe cu aceste autoriti, att la nivel central ct i la nivel local, i a
acordat asisten acestora att n cadrul Grupului interministerial de lucru pe probleme de ajutor de stat, ct i
cu ocazia diverselor aciuni de promovare a culturii concurenei.

Un rol important n monitorizarea strict a ajutoarelor de stat acordate la nivel local a revenit inspectoratelor de
concuren teritoriale ale Consiliului Concurenei. n anul 2006 s-au desfurat 6289 controale n rndul
agenilor economici, aciunile de monitorizare i control viznd o gam larg de obiective, dintre care pot fi
evideniate: verificarea actelor administrative emise de autoritile administraiei publice locale susceptibile a
conine ajutoare de stat nenotificate Consiliului Concurenei, verificarea respectrii condiiilor de autorizare a
ajutoarelor de stat, prevzute n deciziile Consiliului Concurenei, precum i a stadiului derulrii acestora.

n procesul de monitorizare a ajutoarelor de stat, Consiliul Concurenei a acordat o atenie sporit

supravegherii stricte a msurilor de natura ajutorului de stat acordate sub umbrela perioadelor de tranziie,
agreate n contextul negocierilor de aderare (zone defavorizate, zone libere i sectorul siderurgic). n urma
activitii de monitorizare, Consiliul Concurenei a dispus, prin decizie, rambursarea ajutoarelor de stat
acordate peste intensitatea permis unui numr considerabil de ageni economici care au activat n zone
defavorizate.

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The permanent dialogue with mass-media was further developed in 2006. Thus, articles and special issues on

6
specific and present topics on competition and State aid were elaborated and published in daily newspapers or
periodicals with national coverage.

d) Implementation of the competition and State aid legislation

In order to ensure the prevalence of the competition rules over any legislative act that contained potentially
anticompetitive provisions, the Competition Council actively intervened in the regulatory process. Thus, in
2006 the Competition Council issued 70 opinions and 26 points of view on various draft acts and intervened
for the modification of 13 normative acts containing potentially anticompetitive provisions.

So as to ensure an efficient analysis of the impact that regulations from other fields of activity have on
competition, the Competition Council used as working tool the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA). In order
to avoid the adoption of normative provisions breaching the competition rules, a Competition Council official
has continued to participate in the preparatory meetings of the Government reunions where debates take
place on normative acts that are to be included on the agenda of the weekly Government reunions.

In 2006, the Competition Council focused its attention on the most significant distortions of competition and
adequately used the powers given in this respect by law, including dawn-raids. Also, 10 investigations where
launched in the area of antitrust and 3 on State aid matters.

With the aim to discourage anticompetitive behaviours, the Competition Council consolidated its sanctioning
policy with regard to serious distortions of competitions. Under these circumstances, the total level of fines in
2006 amounted to around EUR 15.7 million, out of which 95% represented sanctions applied for
anticompetitive agreements and abuse of dominance.

In the State aid filed, the Competition Council's actions were mainly oriented towards the monitoring and
controlling of the State aid already granted to various undertakings. In this context, the national competition
authority ordered the recovery of illegal and incompatible aids or of aids granted over the maximum admissible
threshold. At the end of 2006, the total value of aid recovered amounted to around EUR 23.4 million.

Improving the quality of the State aid decisions was also in the permanent attention of the Competition
Council. In order to enhance its analysis, investigation and decision-making process in the area of State aid, the
Competition Council's the inspectors were specialised on types of aid. So as to clarify some concrete cases, the
competition authority intensified the direct contacts between national experts and foreign specialists that have
a vast experience in this domain.

The institution's efforts in this direction were substantially supported by the European Commission's experts
under the pre-consultation mechanism through which the Competition Council's State aid draft decisions
were subject to bilateral consultation between Romanian and Community experts.

In order to ensure that the aid grantors observe the ex-ante notification obligation, the Competition Council
intensified the direct contacts with these authorities, both at central and local level, and provided them with
technical assistance within the Inter-ministerial Working Group on State aid and during various competition
advocacy activities.

The Competition Council's territorial inspectorates played an important role in the strict monitoring of the State
aid granted at local level. In 2006, 6298 controls were performed at the headquarters of the relevant
undertakings as the specific monitoring and control activities focused on a wide range of objectives, such as:
the examination of the administrative acts issued by local authorities and likely to include State aid measures
that were not notified to the Competition Council; the examination of the State aid authorisation conditions set
in the Competition Council's decisions and the status of their fulfilment etc.

In the State aid monitoring process, the Competition Council paid a particular attention to the strict monitoring
of the State aid measures granted in the framework of the transitional periods agreed during the accession
negotiations (deprived areas, free zones and steel sector). Following the monitoring, through the Competition
Council's decisions, a considerable number of undertakings from the deprived areas were ordered to
reimburse the aid received over the admissible threshold.

11
 e) Relaii internaionale
6

n planul relaiilor internaionale, anul 2006 a fost marcat de evenimente importante. Astfel, Consiliul
Concurenei a fost tot mai activ pe plan internaional i a acionat n direcia consolidrii cooperrii cu Comisia
European i cu autoritile de concuren din statele membre ale Uniunii Europene, precum i cu diferite
organizaii internaionale (Reeaua Internaional de Concuren, UNCTAD .a.). De asemenea, acceptarea
Romniei ca observator la lucrrile Comitetului de Concuren al Organizaiei de Cooperare i Dezvoltare
Economic (OCDE) a reprezentat un moment deosebit de important pentru Consiliul Concurenei, deoarece
participarea, ncepnd cu anul 2006, la lucrrile Comitetului i-a permis s beneficieze de bogata experien a
acestei organizaii i, n contextul procesului de pregtire a aderrii Romniei la Uniunea European, s se
integreze mai uor n Reeaua European de Concuren.

n scopul ntririi cooperrii cu alte autoriti de concuren, Consiliul Concurenei a ncheiat acorduri de
cooperare cu unele dintre acestea i a dezvoltat relaii strnse de cooperare cu alte autoriti. Autoritatea de
concuren din Romnia a devenit o instituie cunoscut i credibil att n plan intern, ct i n plan extern.
Aprecierea i prestigiul de care Consiliul Concurenei se bucur n prezent sunt rezultatul activitii sale
susinute pentru mbuntirea continu a activitilor de aplicare i promovare eficient a politicii
concurenei, n vederea asigurrii unui mediu concurenial sntos n Romnia.

12
e) External relations

6
As concerns the external relations, 2006 was a year full of important events. Thus, the Competition Council was
more and more involved at international level and acted to strengthen the cooperation with the European
Commission and with competition authorities from the EU Member States, as well as with various international
organisations (International Competition Network, UNCTAD etc). Also, the observer status granted to
Romania for the participation in the activities of the OECD Competition Committee was a major step forward
for the Competition Council. This development allowed our national authority to benefit of the vast experience
of this international organisation and, in the framework of Romania's EU accession process, to easily integrate
into the European Competition Network.

With the aim to strengthen the dialogue with other competition authorities, the Competition Council either
concluded cooperation agreements or developed tight collaboration relations. The Romanian competition
authority became a well-known and credible institution both at internal and external level. The recognition
and prestige the Competition Council is now enjoying are the results of its intense efforts undertaken for the
continuous improvement of the competition implementation and advocacy activities that are aimed at
ensuring a healthy competitive environment in Romania.

13
 Capitolul I

1.1. Nouti legislative n domeniul concurenei CONCURENA:

6

Apropierea datei aderrii Romniei la Uniunea European a NOUTI LEGISLATIVE

nsemnat pentru Consiliul Concurenei intensificarea eforturilor
att pentru alinierea deplin a legislaiei romneti la I EVOLUII
reglementrile comunitare, dar mai ales pentru implementarea
eficient a acesteia.

Consecvent rolului su pro-activ n domeniul alinierii legislaiei

romneti din domeniul concurenei la cerinele europene,
Consiliul Concurenei a continuat i n anul 2006 procesul de
armonizare legislativ. Astfel, n materie de concuren, legislaia
secundar a fost completat prin adoptarea:
a) Regulamentului pentru modificarea i completarea
Regulamentului privind regimul exceptrii pe categorii de
nelegeri, decizii luate de asociaiile de ageni economici i practici
concertate, n domeniul transporturilor maritime, de la interdicia
prevzut la art.5 alin.(1) din Legea concurenei nr.21/1996,
republicat1;

Regulamentul se aplic consoriilor, n msura n care acestea

furnizeaz serviciile de transport maritim internaional de linie,
dinspre sau ctre unul sau mai multe porturi din Romnia. Prin
adoptarea acestuia, au fost modificate i/sau completate 5 articole
din regulamentul anterior, respectiv art.2, 5, 8, 9 i 12.

b) Instruciunilor privind regulile de acces la dosarul

Consiliului Concurenei n cazurile referitoare la art. 5 i 6 din Legea
concurenei nr.21/1996 republicat i n cazurile de concentrri
economice2.

Potrivit acestor instruciuni, accesul la dosarul Consiliului

Concurenei constituie una din garaniile procedurale menite a
contribui la respectarea principiului egalitii armelor i a
dreptului la aprare. Dreptul de acces la dosar este prevzut de
dispoziiile art.44 alin (2) i (4) din Legea Concurenei nr.21/1996
republicat, conform crora, dup transmiterea raportului de
investigaie i nainte de data audierilor, prile n cauz pot
consulta dosarul i obine copii i extrase ale actelor procedurii de
investigaie. Aceste instruciuni stabilesc, totodat, care sunt
informaiile la care se acord accesul, cnd se acord accesul i care
sunt procedurile de urmat pentru realizarea acestui scop.

O atenie deosebit n procesul de armonizare legislativ a fost

acordat, de asemenea, verificrii concordanei legislaiei
secundare romneti cu cea comunitar, din punct de vedere al
claritii i acurateii textelor, precum i verificrii traducerii n
limba romn a legislaiei secundare comunitare n materie de
concuren3.

14
 Chapter I

COMPETITION: 1.1. New legislation in the field of competition

6
NEW LEGISLATION Romania's preparations towards EU accession determined the
Competition Council to enhance its efforts so as to ensure a
AND DEVELOPMENTS complete alignment of the national legislation to the Community
acquis, as well as an efficient implementation of the newly
harmonised rules.

In 2006, the Competition Council continued its pro-active role

for a full harmonisation of the specific legislation. Thus, the
antitrust legislation was completed through the adoption of the
following acts:
a) Regulation modifying and completing the Regulation on the
exemption for certain categories of agreements, decision and
concerted practices between liner shipping companies in the
maritime sector from the application of art. 5(1) of the Competition
Law no. 21/1996, republished1;

The Regulation is applicable to consortia, as far as they provide liner

shipping services, from or to one or more Romanian ports. Through
the adoption of this Regulation, 5 articles were modified and/or
completed in the prior Regulation, namely articles 2, 5, 8, 9 and 12.

b) Guidelines on the rules regarding the access to the Competition

Council's files on cases dealt under articles 5 and 6 of the
Competition Law no. 21/1996, republished, and in merger cases2.

According to these Guidelines, the access to the Competition

Council's case file represents one of the procedural guarantees
aimed to contribute to the observance of the principle equality of
weapons and of the right to defence. The right to access the case
file is provided by art.44, paragraphs (2) and (4) of the Competition
Law no.21/1996, republished. These paragraphs stipulate that,
after the submission of the investigation report and before the
hearings, the involved parties may study the case file and may
obtain copies and excerpts of the investigation documents. At the
same time, these Guidelines established the type of information for
which access was granted, the moment of granting the access and
the procedures to be followed.

A special attention in the harmonisation process was paid to the

assessment of the correspondence between the Romanian and
Community secondary legislations as regards the clearness and
accuracy of the texts. The examination of the Romanian version of
the EU secondary legislation on antitrust was also in the attention
of the Competition Council3.

15
 1.2. Implementarea legislaiei n domeniul concurenei evoluii recente
6

Evoluii n sfera investigaiilor

a) Investigaii deschise

n cursul anului 2006, Consiliul Concurenei a continuat s acorde o importan deosebit investigrii celor
mai grave distorsiuni ale mediului concurenial, utiliznd, n acest scop, instrumentele conferite de lege.

Astfel, n anul 2006 au fost deschise 10 investigaii din care:

4 investigaii ca urmare a unor sesizri/plngeri,
4 investigaii ca urmare a unor cereri/notificri,
2 investigaii din oficiu.

Cele 10 investigaii deschise n anul 2006 se deruleaz pe urmtoarele piee:

Piaa furnizrii i distribuiei de gaze naturale - SC Distrigaz Sud
SA Bucureti (Ordinul nr.74/6.04.2006);
Piaa serviciului de terminare a apelurilor naionale i
internaionale n reelele de telefonie mobil ale SC Orange
Romnia SA i SC Vodafone Romnia SA i piaa accesului n
reeaua de telefonie fix a SC Romtelecom SA - SC Orange
Sesizari/plngeri Romnia SA, SC Vodafone Romnia SA, SC Romtelecom SA
(Ordinul nr.166/10.07.2006);
Piaa distribuiei de carburani - nclcarea prevederilor art.9
din Legea concurenei de ctre Consiliul General al
Muncipiului Bucureti (Ordinul nr.170/17.07.2006);
Piaa serviciilor potale - Compania Naional Pota Romn SA
(Ordinul nr.271/20.11. 2006).

Piaa produselor din ciocolat, piaa produselor din zahr i piaa

produselor din cafea - SC Kraft Food Romnia SA (Ordinul
nr.73/05.04.2006);
Piaa comisionului interbancar/comisionului de retragere
de numerar prin intermediul cardurilor din reeaua de
Cereri/notificari bancomate - Alpha Bank Romnia, Banca Romneasc,
Piraeus Bank Romnia, Volksbank Romnia i Banca
Transilvania (Ordinul nr. 156/27.06.2006);
Piaa igaretelor - SC Philip Morris Romnia SRL (Ordinul nr.
163/3.07.2006);
Piaa acetatului de celuloz - Celanese Corporation (Ordinul
nr. 283/6.12.2006).

Piaa construciilor metalice i a nchirierii de utilaje pentru

construcii - SC Comnord SA Bucureti (Ordinul
Autosesizari
nr.62/24.03.2006);
Piaa colectrii, prelucrrii i comercializrii deeurilor
industriale reciclabile - societi active pe aceast pia
(Ordinul nr.303/27.12.2006).

n cadrul unor investigaii declanate n domeniul sntii n anul 2005 i aflate n curs de analiz au fost
efectuate inspecii inopinate4 la sediile a 13 ageni economici, respectiv:
Alsifcom Intermed S.R.L., SOF Medica SRL, Fresenius Medical Care Romnia SRL i Polisano SRL,
urmare a investigaiei declanate pe piaa produselor i serviciilor pentru dializ din Romnia
(Ordinul nr.215/2005);
Relad Pharma SA, Fildas Trading SRL, Sindan SRL, urmare a investigaiei declanate pe piaa produselor
oncologice din Romnia (Ordinul nr.214/2005);
Novo Nordisk Farma SRL, Polisano SRL, SC Ely Lilly Romnia SRL, Mediplus Exim SA, A&A Medical SRL,
Relad Pharma SA, Aventis International Reprezentana Romnia, Fildas Trading SRL, Sindan SRL,
urmare a investigaiei declanate pe piaa insulinei din Romnia (Ordinul nr.157/2005);

16
1.2. Implementation of the antitrust legislation recent developments

6
Investigations

a) Opened investigations

In 2006, the Competition Council continued to grant special attention to the investigation of the most severe
restrictions of competition, using in this respect all legal instruments available.

During 2006, 10 investigations were opened, out of which:

4 investigations following complaints/intimations;
4 investigations following requests/notifications;
2 ex-officio investigations.

The10 investigations opened in 2006 cover the following markets:

The market of natural gas supply and distribution SC
Distrigaz Sud SA Bucharest (Order no.74/6.04.2006)
The market of call termination services in the mobile
telephony networks of SC Orange Romania SA and SC
Vodafone Romania SA and the market of access to the
Intimations/ fixed telephony network of SC Romtelecom SA SC
complaints Orange Romania SA, SC Vodafone Romania SA, SC
Romtelecom SA (Order no.166/10.07.2006)
The fuel distribution market the infringement of art. 9
by the General Council of Bucharest (Order
no.170/17.07.2006)
The postal services market the National Postal
Company (Order no.271/20.11. 2006).

The market of chocolate, sugar and coffee products SC

Kraft Food Romania SA (Order no.73/05.04.2006)
The market of inter-banking/cash withdrawal fee within
the ATM network Alpha Bank Romania, Romanian
Requests/
Bank, Piraeus Bank Romania, Volksbank Romania
notifications and Banca Transilvania (Order no.156/27.06.2006)
The cigarettes market SC Philip Morris Romania SRL
(Order no. 163/3.07.2006)
The cellulose acetate market Celanese Corporation
(Order no.283/6.12.2006)

The market of metallic constructions and rental of

Ex-officio equipments for constructions SC Comnord SA
investigations Bucharest (Order no.62/24.03.2006)
The market for collecting, processing and trading
industrial waste materials companies operating on
this market (Order no.303/27.12.2006)

For some of the investigations opened in 2005 in the healthcare sector (currently ongoing), down raids4 were
carried out at the premises of 13 undertakings, namely:
= Alsifcom Intermed SRL, SOF Medica SRL, Fresenius Medical Care Romania SRL and Polisano SRL, following
the investigation opened on the dialysis products and services market (Order no.215/2005)
= Relad Pharma SA, Fildas Trading SRL, Sindan SRL, following the investigation opened on the oncology
products market (Order no.214/2005)
= Novo Nordisk Farma SRL, Polisano SRL, SC Ely Lilly Romania SRL, Mediplus Exim SA, A&A Medical SRL, Relad
Pharma SA, Aventis International Romanian Representation, Fildas Trading SRL, Sindan SRL, following the
investigation opened on the insulin market (Order no.157/2005)

17
 Medochemie Romnia SRL, urmare a investigaiei privind o eventual nclcare a art.9 din Legea

6

concurenei nr.21/1996, republicat, de ctre Ministerul Sntii i unitile din subordinea acestuia
(Ordinul nr.44/2005).

b) Investigaii finalizate

Pe parcursul perioadei analizate, Consiliul Concurenei a finalizat 14 investigaii (Tabelul nr.1), respectiv:
a) 8 investigaii declanate din oficiu;
b) 4 investigaii declanate ca urmare a unor plngeri/sesizri;
c) 2 investigaii declanate ca urmare a cererilor de dispens.

18
 Medochemie
= Romania SRL, following the investigation opened on the alleged infringement of art.9 of the

6
Competition Law no.21/1996, republished, by the Ministry of Health and its subordinated units (Order
no.44/2005)

b) Finalised investigations

During the assessed period, the Competition Council finalised 14 investigations (Table no.1), namely:
a) 8 ex-officio investigations;
b) 4 investigations following complaints/intimations;
c) 2 investigations following request for individual exemption.

19
 n patru dintre aceste cazuri (Anexa nr.1), investigaiile Consiliului Concurenei s-au finalizat prin aplicarea
6

de amenzi agenilor economici care au nclcat prevederile Legii concurenei nr.21/1996, dup cum urmeaz:

1) Societatea CROSS LANDER USA INC a fost sancionat pentru nclcarea art. 15 alin. (4) din Legea
concurenei nr.21/1996, republicat, pentru punerea n aplicare a concentrrii economice realizate nainte de
emiterea de ctre Consiliul Concurenei a unei decizii cu privire la operaiunea de concentrare economic n
care societatea era implicat (Decizia nr.97/25.04.2006).
2) Societatea Naional de Transport Feroviar de Marf CFR Marf SA a fost sancionat pentru
nclcarea prevederilor art.6 din Legea concurenei nr.21/1996, republicat, prin faptul c a abuzat de poziia
sa dominant deinut pe piaa serviciilor de exploatare, ntreinere i reparaii pentru locomotive (Decizia
nr.119/15.05.2006).
3) SC UPC Romnia SA, SC RCS & RDS SA i SC CableVision of Romania SRL au fost sancionate pentru
nclcarea art. 5 (1) i, respectiv a art.6, din Legea concurenei nr.21/1996, republicat (Decizia
nr.237/12.12.2006).
4) SC Comnord SA Bucureti a fost sancionat pentru nclcarea art.15 (alin.4) din Legea concurenei,
republicat, pentru punerea n aplicare a operaiunii de concentrare economic realizat nainte de emiterea
de ctre Consiliul Concurenei a unei decizii cu privire la operaiunea de concentrare economic n care
societatea era implicat (Decizia nr. 242/21.12.2006).

Cele patru cazuri sunt prezentate, sintetic, n cele ce urmeaz:

Cazul CROSS LANDER USA INC

Pe baza unor articole aprute n presa central, conform crora societatea CROSS LANDER USA INC a dispus
vnzarea activelor pe care le deinea i le nchiria societii Fabrica de Scule i Matrie ARO SA SC FSM ARO
SA, Consiliul Concurenei a decis declanarea din oficiu a unei investigaii, avnd ca obiect posibila nclcare a
prevederilor art.15 din Legea concurenei de ctre societatea CROSS LANDER USA INC.

Societatea CROSS LANDER USA INC are ca obiect de activitate comercializarea de automobile ARO i piese
de schimb n America de Nord, America Central i America de Sud, precum i asigurarea asistenei tehnice
post-vnzare.

Obiectul de activitate principal al SC ARO SA const n proiectarea, producerea i comercializarea n ar i

strintate a automobilelor, componentelor auto, pieselor de schimb, mainilor unelte agregat, SDV-urilor i
matrielor i a oricror alte produse cu caracter industrial; de asemenea, SC ARO SA desfura activiti legate
de efectuarea de operaiuni de comer exterior, inclusiv sub form de barter cu valorificarea pe piaa intern
sau extern a mrfurilor rezultate din aceste operaiuni, precum i a mrfurilor din stoc, indiferent de
proveniena acestora.

n cadrul investigaiei desfurate de Consiliul Concurenei s-a stabilit c societatea CROSS LANDER USA INC
a achiziionat la data de 26.09.2003 pachetul majoritar de aciuni al SC ARO SA Cmpulung. n perioada
scurs de la data semnrii contractului de vnzare cumprare de aciuni i pn la data emiterii de ctre
Consiliul Concurenei a deciziei de autorizare a concentrrii, noul acionar al societii ARO SA s-a implicat n
managementul societii achiziionate, prin luarea unor msuri ireversibile, de natura celor prevzute n
Regulamentul privind autorizarea concentrrilor economice. Pe de alt parte, s-a constatat c notificarea
concentrrii economice s-a realizat cu depirea termenului de 30 de zile, nclcndu-se, astfel, prevederile
legii concurenei referitoare la obligativitatea respectrii termenului de depunere a notificrii concentrrii
economice.

Avnd n vedere c, prin aciunile ntreprinse, societatea CROSS LANDER USA INC a nclcat prevederile
art.15 alin.(4) din Legea concurenei nr.21/1996 republicat, mpotriva acesteia s-a dispus sancionarea cu
amend n valoare de 668 358,78 lei.

20
In four of these cases (Annex 1), the Competition Council's investigations were finalised by sanctioning the

6
undertakings that infringed the provisions of the Competition Law no. 21/1996, as follows:

1) CROSS LANDER USA INC was sanctioned for infringing art.15(4) of the Competition Law no.21/1996,
republished. The company put into effect an economic concentration before the Competition Council issued a
decision for that operation (Decision no.97/25.04.2006).

2) CFR Marf SA the National Company for Freight Railway Transport was sanctioned for infringing the
provisions of art.6 of the Competition Law no.21/1996, republished, by abusing of its dominant position on the
market of services for locomotives exploitation, maintenance and repair (Decision no.119/15.05.2006).

3) SC UPC Romania SA, SC RCS & RDS SA and SC CableVision of Romania SRL were sanctioned for
infringing art.5(1) and 6 of the Competition Law no.21/1996, republished (Decision no.237/12.12.2006).

4) SC Comnord SA Bucharest was sanctioned for infringing art.15(4) of the Competition Law, republished.
The company put into effect an economic concentration before the Competition Council issued a decision for
that operation (Decision no. 242/21.12.2006).

The 4 cases are briefly presented bellow:

CROSS LANDER USA INC Case

The central press published some information according to which CROSS LANDER USA INC had decided to
sell the assets it had leased to SC FSM ARO SA (ARO Tools and Stencils Factory). Based on these articles, the
Competition Council decided to open an ex-officio investigation having as subject the alleged infringement of
art.15 of the Competition Law by CROSS LANDER USA INC.

The activity of CROSS LANDER USA INC consisted in the trade of ARO auto-vehicles and its spare parts in
North, Central and South America, as well as the provision of post-selling technical assistance.

ARO's main object of activity consisted in the design, production and trade, in Romania and abroad, of auto-
vehicles, automotive components, spare parts, specialised tools and stencils and any other industrial products.
SC ARO SA was also active in international trade, including domestic or international barter operations
developed for the industrial goods produced and for the company's stored products, regardless of their origin.

The investigation carried out by the Competition Council established that, on the 26th of September 2003,
CROSS LANDER USA INC had purchased the majority shares in SC ARO SA Campulung. Before the
conclusion of the Competition Council's analysis of the concentration, the new main shareholder of SC ARO
SA started to involve in the company's management by taking certain irreversible measures, similar to those
stipulated in the Regulation on the authorisation of the economic concentrations. On the other hand, the
competition authority noticed that the notification of the economic concentration was done after the expiry of
the 30-day legal time-limit. Thus, the legal provisions regarding the obligation to submit the notification within
a certain time-limit were also infringed.

Taking into account that CROSS LANDER USA INC actions infringed art.15(4) of the Competition Law
no.21/1996, republished, the Competition Council sanctioned the company with a fine of 668,358.78 lei.

21
 Cazul Societii Naionale de Transport Feroviar de Marf CFR MARF SA
6

Obiectul investigaiei l-a constituit verificarea posibilelor practici anticoncureniale svrite de CFR Marf n
relaia cu operatorii de transport feroviar cu capital privat, la prestarea unor servicii din domeniul su de
activitate, altele dect transportul feroviar. n spe, Consiliul de Administraie al CFR Marf a hotrt ca
societatea s nu mai efectueze alte prestaii pentru operatorii privai dect cele pentru care s-au ncheiat deja
contracte. De asemenea, s-a interzis modificarea, prin acte adiionale, a contractelor n derulare.

Ca urmare a acestor decizii, pentru operatorii de transport feroviar privai a fost ntrerupt prestarea de servicii
care constau n: revizia tehnic a trenurilor de marf, remizarea locomotivei i efectuarea reviziei tehnice a
locomotivei la intrarea/ieirea din depou, accesul personalului de locomotiv n dormitoarele din depourile de
locomotive, instruirea teoretic a personalului n subunitile CFR Marf, asigurarea locomotivei de ajutor,
asigurarea locomotivei pentru multipla traciune.

De asemenea, CFR Marf a instituit i practicat, pentru aceleai prestaii, tarife difereniate i majorate, n
funcie de beneficiarii serviciilor (societi desprinse din fosta SNCFR i, respectiv, ali operatori privai).

Analiza efectuat de Consiliul Concurenei a condus la stabilirea faptului c CFR Marf a abuzat de poziia
dominant deinut pe piaa relevant (care include serviciile de exploatare, ntreinere i reparaii pentru
locomotive, servicii specifice pentru personalul care deservete locomotivele i toate celelalte activiti
necesare bunei desfurri a transportului feroviar de marf).
Prin conduita sa, CFR Marf a nclcat prevederile art.6 lit.a) i c) din Legea concurenei nr.21/1996,
republicat, recurgnd la fapte anticoncureniale constnd n:
a) refuzul de a trata i a ncheia contracte de prestri servicii cu anumii beneficiari ai si, respectiv cu
operatorii de transport feroviar cu capital privat;
b) aplicarea, fa de operatorii privai, a unor condiii inegale la prestaii echivalente, respectiv tarife
difereniate fa de cele aplicate pentru aceleai servicii agenilor economici desprini din SNCFR. n
acest fel, operatorii feroviari privai s-au aflat ntro-o situaie dezavantajoas pe piaa de transport de
marf pe calea ferat.

Fa de cele menionate, Consiliul Concurenei a decis sancionarea Societii Naional de Transport Feroviar
de Marf CFR Marf SA cu amend n valoare de 26 987 010 lei.

Cazul SOCIETILOR DE CABLU

Urmare a unor sesizri, primite in perioada 2001 2002, Consiliul Concurenei a dispus declanarea unor
investigaii pe piaa serviciului de retransmisie a programelor TV prin cablu.

Una dintre investigaii a avut ca obiect eventuala nclcare a prevederilor art.5 alin.1 din Legea concurenei nr.
21/1996, republicat, de ctre agenii economici activi pe piaa serviciilor de retransmisie prin cablu a
programelor TV din municipiul Timioara i, respectiv, a prevederilor art.9 din aceeai lege de ctre Consiliul
Local Timioara.
n urma acestei investigaii s-a constatat c ntre SC UPC Romnia SA i SC HI-FI QUADRAL SRL, operatori de
servicii de retransmisie prin cablu a programelor TV, s-a ncheiat o nelegere anticoncurenial avnd ca obiect
mprirea i delimitarea zonelor de operare ntre acetia n municipiul Timioara i, totodat, crearea de zone
n care serviciile erau furnizate de un singur operator. n aceste condiii, beneficiarii serviciilor de retransmisie
prin cablu a programelor TV au fost lipsii de posibilitatea de a alege ntre serviciile a doi operatori, fiind forai
s utilizeze singurul operator din zona respectiv.

Una dintre probele care a stat la baza investigaiei a fost un contract de vnzare cumprare de reele CATV,
prin care UPC urma s achiziioneze reele de cablu aparinnd HI-FI, contractul fiind semnat de ctre
reprezentanii legali ai celor dou societi. Dei prile au susinut c acest contract nu s-a pus n practic,
Consiliul Concurenei a demonstrat c acesta a avut ca obiect i ca efect mprirea pieei serviciilor de cablu
din Timisoara ntre UPC i HI-FI. Alte probe pe care Consiliul Concurenei le-a avut n vedere au fost
declaraiile contradictorii ale prilor implicate, declaraiile date de abonaii celor doi operatori, precum i
hrile privind localizarea reelelor de cablu ale UPC i HI-FI att anterior, ct i ulterior ncheierii contractului
respectiv, hri transmise chiar de ctre cei doi operatori.

Efectul acestei nelegeri anticoncureniale a fost eliminarea posibilitii abonailor de a opta ntre serviciile
unuia sau altuia dintre operatorii de cablu.

22
THE NATIONAL COMPANY FOR FREIGHT RAILWAY TRANSPORT CFR Marf SA case

6
The object of the Competition Council's investigation consisted in the assessment of the possible
anticompetitive practices implemented by CFR Marf SA (the National Company for Freight Railway Transport)
in its relations with the private railway transport operators as concerns the provision of certain services, other
than freight railway transport. In this respect, CFR Marf's Board of Directors decided that the company should
no longer offer services to private operators, except the operators for which contracts had been already
concluded. The Board also decided to prohibit any amendments of the ongoing contracts.

As a result of these decisions, private railway operators ceased to benefit from certain services necessary for
their activity such as: car and locomotive maintenance and repair, railway yard operations, specific staff
services etc.
Furthermore, CFR Marf charged the operators with different tariffs for equivalent services (the tariffs were
different for private operators as compared to companies that belonged in the past to CFR Group).

The analysis conducted by the Competition Council established that CFR Marf abused of its dominant
position on the relevant market (which includes certain services, such as: locomotive exploitation,
maintenance and repair, specific services for operating staff and all other activities carried out for the proper
functioning of the freight railway transport services).

Through its behaviour, CFR Marf infringed the provisions of art.6, letter a) and c) of the Competition Law
no.21/1996, republished, by implementing the following anticompetitive practices:
a) refusal to negotiate and conclude contracts with some of its beneficiaries, namely the private railway
transport operators;
b) application of different conditions for equivalent services in relation to private operators discriminatory
tariffs in favour of the operators that belonged in the past to CFR Group. Thus, the private freight railway
operators had a disadvantageous position on the freight railway market.

The Competition Council decided that CFR Marf abused of its dominant position and sanctioned the
company with a fine of 26,987,010 lei (EUR 7,618,069).

CATV case

Following certain complaints received during 2001-2002, the Competition Council carried out a series of
investigations on the cable TV market.

One of these investigations concerned the alleged infringement of art.5(1) of the Competition Law by two
cable services providers operating in the city of Timioara and of art.9 of the same law by the Local Council of
Timioara.

The investigation revealed that a market sharing agreement had been concluded between two cable operators
from Timioara, namely SC UPC Romania SA (UPC) and SC HI-FI Quadral SRL (HI-FI). Thus, areas where CATV
services were offered by a single operator were created. As a consequence, the subscribers had no alternative
at hand as regards CATV services, being forced to contract with the only operator active in their residential area.

One of the main evidence in this case was a CATV network sale/purchase contract, concluded between the two
companies involved. According to the contract signed by the legal representatives of the undertakings, UPC
was about to acquire CATV networks belonging to HI-FI. Even if parties claimed that this contract was never
put into practice because of a disagreement related to its preliminary terms, the Competition Council
succeeded in proving the anticompetitive object and effect of the market sharing contract. Other evidences on
which the Competition Council based its analysis consisted in the contradictory statements delivered by the
involved parties and those made by the subscribers, as well as in the maps submitted by the cable operators
showing the market conditions prior to and after the signing of the contract. As a consequence, it became clear
that not only HI-FI deliberately withdrew from some areas of the city, but also UPC proceeded in the same
manner.

The fact that the subscribers had no option in choosing between the services offered by these 2 cable operators
represented the effect of this anticompetitive agreement.

23
 Prin aceast nelegere, SC UPS Romnia SA i SC HI-FI QUADRAL SRL au nclcat prevederile art.5 alin. (1) lit.
6

c) din Legea concurenei nr.21/1996, n conformitate cu care sunt interzise orice nelegeri exprese sau tacite
ntre agenii economici [...], care au ca obiect sau ca efect restrngerea, mpiedicarea sau denaturarea
concurenei pe piaa romneasc sau pe o parte a acesteia, n special cele care urmresc:[...]c) mprirea
pieelor de desfacere sau a surselor de aprovizionare, pe criteriul teritorial, al volumului de vnzri i achiziii ori
pe alte criterii.

n urma analizrii cazului prezentat, Consiliul Concurenei a decis sancionarea societilor care au nclcat
art.5, alin.(1), lit.c) din Legea concurenei nr.21/1996, prin ncheierea i punerea n practic a unei nelegeri
anticoncureniale avnd ca obiect partajarea pieei serviciilor de retransmisie prin cablu a programelor TV din
municipiul Timioara. Astfel, SC UPC Romnia SA a fost sancionat cu amend n valoare de 7 257 984 lei
(aproximativ 2 milioane EUR), iar SC RCS&RDS SA, n calitate de succesor de drept al HI-FI Quadral, cu
amend n valoare de 807 275 lei (aproximativ 240.000 EUR).

n cadrul celei de-a doua investigaii, desfurat n Bucureti, s-a analizat comportamentul pe pia al
urmtorilor operatori: SC ASTRAL TELECOM SA, SC CABLE VISION OF ROMANIA SA, SC ROMANIA CABLE
SYSTEMS SA i SC UPC ROMANIA SA.
Fiecare dintre aceti operatori a fost identificat, n anumite zone din Bucureti, ca fiind singurul agent
economic n calitate de furnizor al serviciilor CATV, deinnd de facto poziia de monopol.
Principiul de baz al unei economii de pia i al legislaiei de protecie a concurenei este acela c preurile i
tarifele se determin n mod liber prin concuren, pe baza cererii i a ofertei. Dar, n cazul de fa, n zonele n
care operatorii de servicii CATV dein de facto o poziie de monopol, nu exist concuren n ceea ce privete
stabilirea tarifelor, iar abonaii nu au alternativ: accept tarifele furnizorilor de servicii CATV sau renun la
serviciile CATV.

Art. 6 din Legea concurenei interzice folosirea n mod abuziv a unei poziii dominante deinute de ctre unul
sau mai muli ageni economici pe piaa romneasc ori pe o parte substanial a acesteia, prin recurgerea la
fapte anticoncureniale, care au ca obiect sau pot avea ca efect afectarea activitii economice ori prejudicierea
consumatorilor.
Pentru a constitui un abuz de poziie dominant, comportamentul operatorilor de servicii CATV trebuie s aib
ca obiect sau s poat avea ca efect prejudicierea consumatorilor. Raportat la cazul de fa, pentru a avea ca
obiect sau a putea avea ca efect prejudicierea consumatorilor, comportamentul operatorilor de servicii CATV ar
fi trebuit s vizeze impunerea tarifelor sau a altor clauze contractuale inechitabile. Mergnd pe aceast logic,
n cadrul investigaiei s-au analizat continuul contractelor pe care operatorii de servicii CATV le-au ncheiat cu
abonaii, precum i modalitatea de stabilire i de majorare a tarifelor.

Ca regul general, cu excepia ASTRAL, n perioada 2002 martie 2004, n contractele ncheiate cu abonaii,
operatorii prevedeau c pot majora tarifele n condiiile n care le creteau costurile. Din analiza informaiilor
privind evoluia tarifelor practicate n perioada analizat i a structurii costurilor, transmise de ctre prile
implicate, a rezultat c ASTRAL TELECOM, n perioada 2002 2005 i, respectiv, CVR, n anul 2005 au abuzat
de poziia dominant n localitatea Bucureti. Abuzul de poziie dominant s-a manifestat prin impunerea de
tarife majorate n mod nejustificat de creterea costurilor.
Astfel, n condiiile n care n contractele ncheiate de ctre societatea CABLEVISION OF ROMANIA cu
abonaii se prevedea c tarifele se pot majora n situaia creterii costurilor, din analiza structurii tarifelor s-a
constat c, n lunile octombrie i decembrie 2005, acest operator a impus abonailor tarife majorate pe fondul
scderii costurilor. Totodat, n luna decembrie 2005, s-a identificat nglobarea cheltuielilor cu drepturile de
autor i la categoria alte cheltuieli, n condiiile n care acestea deja figurau la categoria cheltuieli cu plata
drepturilor de autor, fapt ce a condus la majorarea nejustificat a costurilor unitare.

n ceea ce privete ASTRAL TELECOM, contractele ncheiate cu abonaii n perioada 2002 aprilie 2004 nu
prevedeau criterii referitoare la majorarea tarifelor. n aceast perioad, s-au constatat majorri ale tarifelor
efectuate de ctre ASTRAL TELECOM n condiiile scderii costurilor. Majorarea tarifului nu era motivat de
ctre operator, ntruct acesta nu i asumase prin contract dect obligaia de a notifica intenia de majorare, nu
i motivele care ar justifica majorarea. Cu toate c, ncepnd cu luna mai 2004, ASTRAL TELECOM a prevzut
n contracte criterii n funcie de care putea majora tarifele, i anume creteri ale costurilor unitare, s-a constatat
c n perioada mai 2004 2005, ASTRAL TELECOM a manifestat acelai comportament, nerespectnd
criteriile stabilite, majorand tarifele inclusiv n lunile n care costurile unitare nregistrau scderi.

Acest abuzuri au avut ca efect prejudicierea consumatorilor, nevoii s accepte tarifele impuse de ctre
operatorii de servicii CATV, ntruct acetia nu dispuneau de o alt alternativ dect aceea de a renuna la
serviciile CATV.
Pe parcursul desfurrii investigaiei, ASTRAL a fost absorbit de UPC. Din acest motiv, UPC, n calitatea sa de
succesor al ASTRAL, a fost amendat pentru abuzul de poziie dominant svrit de ASTRAL, cu amend de
17.605.784 lei (4.995.257 EUR). Totodat, CVR a fost sancionat cu 273.766 lei (77.675 EUR).

24
By this agreement, UPC and HI-FI violated the provisions of art.5(1)c) of the Competition Law, according to

6
which any express or tacit agreements between undertakings or associations of undertakings [...], which have as
object or may have as effect the restriction, prevention or distortion of competition on the Romanian market or
on a part of it, shall be prohibited, especially those aimed at: [...] c) allocating distribution markets or supply
sources according to territorial criteria, sales and purchase volume or other criteria.

On the basis of the evidences presented above, the Competition Council decided to sanction the companies
that violated art.5, paragraph (1), letter c) of the Competition Law by concluding and putting into practice a
market sharing agreement on Timisoara's cable TV market. UPC was fined with 7,257,984 lei (around EUR 2
million) and RCS&RDS, the legal successor of HI-FI, with 807,275 lei (around EUR 240,000).

Another investigation was opened on the CATV market in Bucharest. The object of the investigation was the
assessment of the behaviour on the Bucharest CATV market of the following operators: SC Astral Telecom SA
(Astral), SC Cable Vision of Romania SA (CVR), SC Romania Cable Systems SA (Cable Systems) and SC UPC
Romania SA (UPC).

Each of these operators was identified as a single CATV services supplier in certain areas of Bucharest de facto
detaining a monopoly position.

The basic principle of a market economy is that prices and tariffs are freely determined through competition,
based on demand and supply. In this particular case, in residential areas where the CATV operators are de facto
in a monopoly position, there was no competition as regards the tariffs. As a consequence, the subscribers had
no alternative: either they accepted the tariffs for the CATV services or renounced at this type of service.

Art.6 of the Competition Law prohibits any abuse of a dominant position held by one or more undertakings on
the Romanian market or on a substantial part of it, by resorting to anticompetitive deeds, which have as object or
may have as effect the distortion of trade or the prejudice of consumers.

So as to be considered an abuse of dominance, the CATV operators' behaviour must have as object or might
have as effect the harm of the consumers. In this case, the anticompetitive behaviour could have consisted in
the imposing of the tariffs or of other inequitable clauses. Based on this reasoning, the investigation team
analysed the content of the contracts concluded between the subscribers and the CATV operators, as well as
the modality of setting and increasing the tariffs.

As a general rule, except for ASTRAL, between January 2002 and March 2004, the operators established in the
contracts that the tariffs could have been increased only subject to an increase of the costs. After the analysis of
the information forwarded by the operators, the Competition Council noted that ASTRAL TELECOM, during
2002-2005, and CVR, in 2005, had abused of their dominant positions in Bucharest. Their abuses consisted in
unjustified increases of the tariffs, not linked to the evolution of the costs.

Thus, CVR increased the tariffs in October and December 2005 even if the costs decreased. Also, the
Competition Council noted that in December 2005, the costs for intellectual property rights were included, in
the same time, in two separate cost categories: costs for intellectual property rights and other costs. This
fact also led to an unjustified increase of the unitary costs.

As concerns Astral, the contracts concluded between January 2002 and April 2004 had no provisions regarding
tariff increase. The Competition Council noted that during the aforesaid period the tariffs increased, while the
costs decreased. These increases were not reasoned by the operator, as the company committed through the
contracts concluded with the subscribers only to notify its intention to increase the tariffs and not the reasons of
its behaviour. Despite the fact that as of May 2004 Astral included in its contracts criteria based on which the
company could have increased the tariffs, namely an increase linked to the increase of the unitary costs, the
Competition Council found out that during 2004-2005 the company's behaviour remained unchanged and
Astral did not observe the established criteria, increasing the tariffs even in those months when the costs
reduced.

These abuses had the effect of harming the consumers which were forced to accept the tariffs imposed by the
CATV operators since their other alternative was to renounce at the CATV services.

During the investigation Astral was absorbed by UPC. Consequently, UPC was sanctioned for the abuse of its
legal predecessor, namely Astral, with a fine of 17,605,784 lei (EUR 4,995,257). CVR was also sanctioned with
a fine of 273,766 lei (EUR 77,675).

25
 CAZUL SC COMNORD SA
6

Prin Ordinul nr.62/24.03.2006, Consiliul Concurenei s-a autosesizat n legtur cu posibila nclcare a
prevederilor Legii concurenei nr.21/1996 de ctre SC Comnord SA Bucureti.

SC Comnord SA a cumprat pachetul majoritar de aciuni din capitalul social al SC Girueta SA Jilava,
dobndind n acest fel controlul unic direct asupra acestei societi. Obiectul investigaiei l-a constituit analiza
punerii n aplicare a operaiunii de concentrare economic nainte de emiterea unei decizii de ctre Consiliul
Concurenei.

n urma analizei efectuate, s-a constatat c SC Comnord SA a ntreprins, cu privire la agentul economic
achiziionat, o serie de aciuni care se ncadreaz n categoria msurilor ireversibile pe care agentul
economic achizitor nu are voie s le adopte nainte de emiterea de ctre Consiliul Concurenei a unei decizii
favorabile cu privire la concentrarea economic respectiv.
Msurile cu caracter ireversibil luate de SC Comnord SA au constat n:
a) schimbarea obiectului de activitate al SC Girueta SA;
b) modificarea statutului acestei societi;
c) vnzarea de active care aparineau societii achiziionate;
d) aprobarea programului de restructurare a agentului economic n vederea obinerii de ajutor de stat;
e) aprobarea planului de investiii aferent programului de restructurare.

Fa de faptele de mai sus, Consiliul Concurenei a decis sancionarea SC Comnord SA Bucureti cu amend n
sum de 500 000 lei.

c) Investigaii n curs

La sfritul anului 2006, erau n derulare 20 de investigaii, repartiia acestora n funcie de modalitatea de
deschidere, fiind redat n Graficul nr.1.

8 8

5
4
(nr.)

0
Autosesizari Plngeri/sesizari Cereri/notificari

26
SC COMNORD SA case

6
The investigation was initiated ex-officio through Order no.62/24.03.2006 and concerned the possible
infringement of the Competition Law by SC COMNORD SA.

SC COMNORD SA bought the majority of shares in SC GIRUETA SA, thus acquiring the sole control over this
company. The object of the investigation concerned the implementation of an economic concentration prior
to the Competition Council's decision.

The analysis revealed that SC COMNORD SA implemented several irreversible measures in relation to the
acquired party. According to the legislation in force, the buyer should not have implemented these measures
prior to the decision of the Competition Council.

The irreversible measures taken by SC COMNORD SA consisted in:

a) the modification of SC Girueta SA's object of activity;
b) the modification of SC Girueta SA's statute;
c) the selling of assets that belonged to the acquired party;
d) the approval of a restructuring program for the acquired party in order to enable it to receive State aid;
e) the approval of an investment plan for the aforesaid restructuring program.

Having in view the abovementioned elements, the Competition Council decided to sanction SC COMNORD
SA with a fine of 500,000 lei (EUR 141,864).

c) Ongoing investigations

At the end of 2006, 20 investigations were in progress. The classification based on their type is presented in
Graph no.1.

8 8

5
4
(no.)

Ex-officio Complaints Request/notifications

27
 Cele 20 de investigaii n curs sunt axate, n principal, pe analiza i evaluarea comportamentului unor operatori
6

economici activi pe pieele prezentate sintetic n Tabelul nr.2.

Din tabelul de mai sus se poate remarca faptul c investigaiile desfurate vizeaz sectoare economice diferite,
cu o pondere mai mare a investigaiilor din sectorul energetic (24%) i a celor din sectorul medical (24 %).

d) Decizii emise n anul 2006 n domeniul concurenei

Activitatea decizional n domeniul

concurenei s-a concretizat n anul
2006 prin adoptarea unui numr de
154 de decizii, reprezentnd 60,2%
din totalul deciziilor emise de Consiliul
Concurenei (Tabelul nr.3).

Structura deciziilor emise relev

ponderea ridicat a deciziilor aferente
operaiunilor de concentrare
economic (notificri i alte tipuri de
decizii) (77,9%), fiind urmate de
deciziile de sancionare, a cror
pondere n totalul deciziilor se situeaz
la 16,2% (Graficul nr.2).

28
The 20 ongoing investigations were mainly oriented towards the analysis and assessment of the behaviour of

6
certain economic operators that were active on the markets presented in Table 2.

The above table shows that the investigations covered various economic sectors, with higher percentages in the
energy (24%) and medical (24%) sectors.

d) Antitrust decisions issued in 2006

The 2006 decision-making process in

the field of antitrust consisted in the
adoption of 154 decisions representing
60.2% of the total number of decisions
issued by Competition Council in 2006
(Table no.3).

The structure of the decisions issued in

2006 reveals a high percentage of
decisions on economic concentrations
(notifications and other types of
decisions) 77.9%, followed by
sanctioning decisions with 16.2%
(Graph no.2).

29
 0,6% 16,2%
77,9%
6

5,2%

Plngeri Exceptari individuale Decizii de sanctionare Concentrari economice

e) Sanciuni aplicate pentru nclcarea Legii concurenei nr.21/1996, republicat

Pentru cazurile de nclcare a reglementrilor n domeniul concurenei, Consiliul Concurenei a aplicat

amenzi n valoare de 55 235 010,107 lei (15 671 729,354 euro) din care aprox. 81% reprezint
sancionarea abuzului de poziie dominant (Tabelul nr.4, Graficul nr.3).

0,8% 1,2%
2,1%

14,6%
81,2%

nelegeri anticoncureniale (art.5)

Punere n aplicare a unei concentrri nainte de emiterea deciziei de ctre Consiliul Concurenei (art.15, alin.4)
Omisiunea notificarii
.
Amenzi aplicate n baza unor procese verbale
Abuz de pozitie dominanta

* Amenzi aplicate agenilor economici pentru nefurnizare de informaii, pentru furnizarea de informaii incorecte etc.

Fa de anul 2005, valoarea amenzilor s-a nscris pe o pant descendent urmare (Tabelul nr.5), printre altele,
i a intensificrii eforturilor Consiliului n domeniul promovrii regulilor de concuren, al monitorizrii active a
comportamentului agenilor economici, precum i al prevenirii manifestrii de comportamente
anticoncureniale.

30
 0,6% 16,2%
77,9%

6
5,2%

Complaints Individual exemptions Sanctioning decisions Economic concentrations

e) Fines applied for infringements of the Competition Law no.21/1996, republished

In 2006, the total level of fines applied by the Competition Council for infringements of the competition
legislations amounted to 55,235,010.11 lei (EUR 15,671,729.36), out of which around 81% represented
fines applied for sanctioning the abuse of dominance (Table no.4, Graph no.3).

0,8% 1,2%
2,1%

14,6%
81,2%

Restrictive agreements (art.5)

Implementation of an economic concentration prior to the Competition Councils decision (art.15, alin.4)
Fines imposed based on records of proccedings*
Failure to notify
Abuse of dominant position

* Fines applied to the undertakings involved for not supplying the requested information or for supplying
incorrect information etc.

The value of the fines recorded a descending trend in 2006 as compared to 2005 (Table no.5), mainly due to
the enhanced efforts undertaken by the Competition Council in the field of competition advocacy, as well as
due to the institution's active monitoring and consistent prevention of anticompetitive behaviours.

31
 Tabelul nr.5. Evoluia valorii amenzilor aplicate
de Consiliul Concurenei n perioada 2003-2006 (lei)
6

n anul 2006 s-au aplicat, prin decizie, sanciuni pentru omisiunea notificrii unui numr de 21 ageni
economici i persoane fizice, valoarea nsumat a amenzilor fiind de 689 100,327 lei (Tabelul nr. 6).

Conform prevederilor Legii concurenei nr.21/1996, republicat, operaiunile de concentrare economic ce

se ncadreaz n plafoanele stabilite prin cadrul legal, trebuie notificate autoritii de concuren, punerea lor
n aplicare fiind posibil doar dup emiterea unei decizii de ctre Consiliul Concurenei. Pentru omisiunea
notificrii, prile achizitoare implicate n operaiuni de concentrare economic pot fi sancionate cu amend
contravenional de pn la 1% din cifra de afaceri total aferent anului financiar anterior aplicrii sanciunii.

n aceast situaie s-au regsit i cele 21 persoane fizice sau juridice, sancionate n cursul anului 2006 pentru
omisiunea notificrii.

32
 LEI

6
In 2006, 21 legal and natural persons were sanctioned through decision for failure to notify an economic
concentration with fines in total amount of 689100.33 lei (Table no. 6).

According to the provisions of the Competition Law no.21/1996, republished, the economic concentrations
that meet the thresholds set out by the law have to be notified to the competition authority and their
implementation can take place only after the Competition Council issues an authorisation decision. For failure
to notify, the parties involved in an economic concentration can be sanctioned with a fine of up to 1% of the
turnover achieved in the previous fiscal year.

That was the case for the 21 legal or natural persons sanctioned in 2006 for failure to notify an economic
concentration.

33
 Decizia nr.108/15.05.2006 referitoare la sancionarea societii Compagnie de
6

Saint Gobain Frana pentru omisiunea notificrii unei operaiuni de concentrare economic

Societatea comercial Compagnie de Saint Gobain Frana a dobndit controlul unic asupra societii
comerciale British Palster Board plc. Anglia. Dobndirea controlului n comun s-a realizat n urma acceptrii de
ctre acionarii societii comerciale British Plaster Board plc.Anglia, societate listat la bursa de valori din
Londra, a ofertei publice nesolicitate lansate de Compagnie de Saint Gobain Frana.

Conform reglementrilor din domeniul concurenei, operaiunea de concentrare trebuia notificat Consiliului
Concurenei n termenul legal. Depirea termenului prevzut pentru notificare a condus la sancionarea
societii Compagnie de Saint Gobain Frana, cu amend contravenional n valoare de 243240 lei.

1.3. Acte emise de Consiliul Concurenei n baza

Legii concurenei nr.21/1996, republicat, contestate n instan

Legalitatea i temeinicia actelor emise de Consiliul Concurenei n temeiul Legii concurenei nr. 21/1996,
republicat, pot face obiectul controlului instanelor de judecat, n procedura de contencios administrativ.

n cursul anului 2006, autoritatea de concuren a avut calitate procesual, activ sau pasiv, n 174 de dosare.
Dintre acestea, un numr de 129 de dosare au vizat acte emise n baza Legii concurenei, 79 dosare fiind
constituite n 2006.

Din actele care au fost emise n anul 2006, n baza prevederilor Legii nr.21/1996, au fost contestate n instan
12 decizii, 1 proces verbal i 2 adrese.

n aceeai perioad, instanele competente s-au pronunat n 31 de dosare, n care au fost contestate decizii
prin care s-a reinut i sancionat nclcarea articolelor 5, 6 i 15 din Legea Concurenei, dup cum urmeaz:
= 16 dosare au fost soluionate definitiv de Curtea de Apel Bucureti, n 14 dintre acestea soluia fiind
favorabil autoritii de concuren;
= 15 dosare au fost soluionate irevocabil de nalta Curte de Casaie i Justiie, toate hotrrile fiind
pronunate n favoarea Consiliului Concurenei.

Cazuri soluionate n mod irevocabil de instana de judecat n cursul anului 2006:

1.Piaa tichetelor de mas

Prin decizia nr. 270/2004, Plenul Consiliului Concurenei a constatat nclcarea dispoziiilor art. 5 alin. (1) lit. a)
din Legea concurenei nr. 21/1996, modificat i completat, de ctre opt societi emitente de tichete de
mas, prin fixarea concertat a nivelului minim al comisionului pe care acestea l percep de la societile
angajatoare.

Piaa tichetelor de mas este o pia parial reglementat, nu ns i n ceea ce privete determinarea
comisionului, ca pre al serviciului pe care societile emitente l percep de la societile angajatoare.

Manifestndu-i nemulumirea fa de Ministerul Finanelor Publice n legtur cu legislaia care le era

incident, societile emitente au fost invitate la dezbateri n vederea formulrii unor propuneri de
mbuntire a cadrului legislativ. Cu ocazia ntlnirilor desfurate timp de 2 luni ntre societile emitente, s-a
conturat i propunerea de fixare a unui nivel minim al comisionului, iar n urma ntlnirii de la sediul
Ministerului, toate cele 8 societi au agreat s practice un nivel minim al comisionului de 2%. Acest acord a
fost menionat n Minuta ntlnirii de la sediul Ministerului Finanelor Publice.

nelegerea societilor nu a fost implementat n practic, deoarece Consiliul Concurenei a intervenit,

sancionnd comportamentul pe motiv c intr sub incidena art. 5 alin. (1) din Legea concurenei.

34
Decision no.108/15.05.2006 on the sanctioning of Compagnie de Saint Gobain France for failure to

6
notify an economic concentration

Compagnie de Saint Gobain France acquired sole control over British Palster Board plc. England. The
acquisition of joint control was achieved after the shareholders of British Plaster Board plc. England accepted
the public bid launched by Compagnie de Saint Gobain France. British Palster Board plc. England is a company
listed at the London stock exchange.

According to the competition rules in force, the transaction should have been notified to the Competition
Council in a given legal time-limit. Because the legal time-limit set for the notification of the concentration was
not observed, Compagnie de Saint Gobain France was sanctioned with a fine of 243240 lei.

1.3. Acts issued by the Competition Council based

on Competition Law no.21/1996, republished, challenged in court

The legality and the reasoning of the acts issued by the Competition Council on the basis of the Competition
Law no.21/1996, republished, can be subject to legal review by courts, under the administrative procedure.

In 2006, the competition authority had active or passive locus standi in 174 court files. Out of these, 129 court
files concerned administrative acts issued by the competition authority in the area of antitrust;out of these, 79
concerned files initiated in 2006.

Out of total number of acts issued in 2006 on the basis of the Competition Law no.21/1996, 12 decisions, 1
record of procceding and 2 letters of information were challenged in court.

During the same period, the courts issued judgements in 31 files having as object decisions issued by the
competition authority for the infringement of art. 5(1), 6 and 15 of the Competition Law, as follows:
= 16 files were definitively solved by the Bucharest Court of Appeal. Out of these files, 14 cases were solved in
favour of the Competition Council;
= 15 files were irrevocably solved by the High Court of Cassation and Justice, all cases being solved in favour of
the Competition Council.

Antitrust cases irrevocably solved by courts in 2006:

1. The Meal Tickets Case

By decision no.270/2004, the Competition Council found out that 8 undertakings issuing meal tickets were
infringing art.5(1)(a) of the Competition Law no. 21/1996 by concertedly fixing the minimum fee collected
from the companies benefiting of their services.

The meal tickets market is a partially regulated market, except for the setting up of the fee collected from the
companies benefiting of this service.

Because the companies issuing meal tickets showed their discontent towards the Ministry of Public Finances
regarding the specific legislation, they were invited to a debate with the aim to draft proposals for the
improvement of the legislative framework. During the meetings that took place at the Ministry's headquarters
over a two months period, a proposal for fixing the minimum level of the fee was launched. The 8 involved
companies agreed to establish a minimum level of the fee of 2%. This agreement was mentioned in the minutes
of the meeting that was held at the Ministry of Public Finances.

The agreement concluded by the involved undertakings was not put into practice because the Competition
Council intervened and sanctioned that behaviour on the basis of art.5(1) of the Competition Law.

35
6

36
6 of the 8 undertakings involved challenged in court the Competition Council's decision. The Bucharest Court

6
of Appeal, as first instance, ruled in favour of the Competition Council, considering its decision as legal well
grounded.
In its judgement, the Bucharest Court of Appeal underlined that the minutes showed the undertakings'
concurrence of wills with regards to the fixing of a minimum fee, representing an express agreement of the
undertakings concluded with the aim to prevent and distort competition in the meaning of art.5(1) of the
Competition Law.

The Court of Appeal also stated that the role and involvement of the Ministry of Public Finances did not remove
the undertakings' liability because the Ministry's attributions did not cover the fixing of the fee since this was a
component of the non-regulated part of the meal ticket market.

The court further showed that the involved parties were aware of the commercial nature of the agreement
since it was concluded to maximise their profits. The court also indicated that the Ministry of Public Finances
could not influence the conclusion of the agreement because this institution had no jurisdiction to apply
sanctions in case the involved undertakings would not observe the minimum level of fee, contrary to what the
parties sustained for their defence.

All these cases were further appealed before the High Court of Cassation and Justice which irrevocably solved
them in 2006 by maintaining the judgment of the first instance and, implicitly, the Competition Council's
decision.

2. The Bid-rigging case

Through decision no.38/2002, the Competition Council showed that two companies infringed art.5(1)(f) of the
Competition Law by participating with rigged bids in an public tender held for the privatisation of
SC OBCINA SA Rdui. Note should be made that the companies previously decided on who would win the
tender.

The most important piece of evidence was the behaviour of one of the involved companies that played a
passive role and facilitated the other company's win of the public tender at a much lower price than the start-up
price (Dutch auction).

The competition authority sanctioned the two bidders and declared void the share sale and purchase contract
concluded between the institution that organised the bid and its winner.

The Competition Council's decision was challenged before the Bucharest Court of Appeal. The court rejected
the appeal and indicated that the competition authority's decision is legal and the two involved companies are
culpable of concluding an anticompetitive agreement as it was shown in the Competition Council's decision.

The case was further appealed before the High Court of Cassation and Justice. In 2006, the High Court of
Justice irrevocably solved the case, retaining the ruling of the Bucharest Court of Appeal and, as a consequence,
the Competition Council's decision.

37
 Capitolul II

2.1. Noi reglementri n domeniul ajutorului de stat AJUTORUL DE STAT:

6

Anul 2006 a nsemnat intensificarea eforturilor depuse de NOUTI LEGISLATIVE

Consiliul Concurenei pentru confirmarea capacitii de
aplicare a legislaiei, precum i pentru mbuntirea I EVOLUII
monitorizrii ajutoarelor de stat.

Progresele nregistrate n anul anterior au fost continuate,

astfel nct, n Raportul de monitorizare din mai 2006, Comisia
European a apreciat c Romnia are capacitatea de a
implementa legislaia privind ajutorul de stat i c respect
angajamentele asumate prin Tratatul de aderare la Uniunea
European.

Principala consecin a acestor aprecieri a fost reprezentat de

intrarea ntr-o nou faz de cooperare ntre Consiliul
Concurenei i Comisia European, n cadrul procedurii
interimare, care permite acordarea, i dup data aderrii, de
ajutoare de stat autorizate anterior de Consiliul Concurenei.
n plan legislativ, cadrul legal a fost completat prin adoptarea a trei
noi regulamente, respectiv:

Regulamentul
= privind ajutorul de stat sub forma compensrilor
acordate anumitor ntreprinderi crora le-a fost ncredinat
prestarea unor servicii de interes economic general;

Regulamentul
= pentru modificarea i completarea
Regulamentului privind transparena fluxurilor financiare
dintre autoritile publice i ntreprinderi publice, precum i
transparena financiar n cadrul anumitor ntreprinderi;

Regulamentul
= privind abrogarea unor regulamente i
instruciuni adoptate de Consiliul Concurenei n domeniul
ajutorului de stat.

REGULAMENTUL
privind ajutorul de stat sub forma compensrilor acordate
anumitor ntreprinderi crora le-a fost ncredinat
prestarea unor servicii de interes economic general

Acest regulament se aplic ajutorului de stat sub forma

compensrilor acordate anumitor ntreprinderi care presteaz
servicii de interes economic general i care se ncadreaz ntr-una
din urmtoarele categorii:
a) compensarea pentru serviciul de interes economic general
acordat spitalelor i agenilor economici care au n administrare
adposturi sociale;
b) compensarea pentru serviciul de interes economic general,
acordat aeroporturilor i porturilor la care traficul mediu anual
pentru perioada celor doi ani anteriori ncredinrii obligaiei de
prestare a serviciului economic general, nu depete 1.000.000
de pasageri i 300.000 de pasageri n cazul porturilor.

Compensarea pentru serviciul de interes economic se acord

agenilor economici, care ndeplinesc cumulativ anumite condiii
legate de valoarea medie a cifrei de afaceri anuale i valoarea
medie a compensrii anuale. Regulamentul nu se aplic
ajutoarelor de stat pentru agricultur, piscicultur, radio-
difuziune i transporturi terestre, inclusiv cele realizate pe cile
navigabile interne.

38
 Chapter II

STATE AID: 2.1. New regulations in the field of state aid

6
NEW LEGISLATION In 2006 the Competition Council consolidated its efforts
towards the strenghtening of the enforcement record, as well as
AND DEVELOPMENTS the improvement of the State aid monitoring.

The Competition Council continued to sustain the path of

progress registered in the previous years. Consequently, the
European Commission concluded, in the May 2006 Monitoring
report, that Romania's enforcement record in the field of State
aid had reached a satisfactory level and that the commitments
undertaken under the Treaty of Accession to the European
Union had been observed.

The main consequence of these accomplishments was the

innitiation of a new phase in the cooperation between the
Competition Council and the European Commission, within
the interim procedure. This mechanism enabled Romania to
grant, after accession, State aid previously authorised by the
Competition Council. The legal framework was completed by the
adoption of three new regulations, namely:
= Regulation on State aid as compensations granted to
undertakings entrusted with services of general economic
interest;

Regulation
= amending and completing the Regulation on the
transparency of financial relations between public authorities
and public undertakings as well as on financial transparency
within certain undertakings;

Regulation
= on the repeal of certain regulations and guidelines
adopted by the Competition Council in the field of State aid.

REGULATION
on State aid as compensations granted to undertakings
entrusted with services of general economic interest

This Regulation applies to State aid under the form of

compensations granted to undertakings providing services of
general economic interest that are included in one of the following
categories:

a) compensation for the service of general economic interest

granted to hospitals and to the economic agents having in their
administration social shelters;
b) compensation for the service of general economic interest,
granted to airports and ports where the annual average traffic
for the two years prior to the entrustment of the obligation to
provide the service of general economic interest does not
exceed 1,000,000 passengers and 300,000 passengers in case
of ports.

Compensation for the service of general economic interest is

granted to economic agents who cumulatively fulfil certain
conditions regarding the annual average turnover and the annual
average compensation. The Regulation does not apply to State aid
for agriculture, fisheries, radio broadcasting and terrestrial land
transportation, including transport on internal waterways.

39
 Regulamentul conine prevederi specifice legate de domeniul de aplicare, exceptri, condiiile n care
6

compensarea serviciilor de interes economic nu constituie ajutor de stat, cuantumul compensrii, costuri
necesare pentru ndeplinirea serviciului, venituri relevante, profitul rezonabil, ajutorul de stat incompatibil,
supracompensare, transparen i necesitatea informaiilor.

REGULAMENTUL
pentru modificarea i completarea Regulamentului privind transparena fluxurilor financiare
dintre autoritile publice i ntreprinderi publice, precum i transparena financiar
n cadrul anumitor ntreprinderi

Regulamentul privind transparena fluxurilor financiare dintre autoritile publice i ntreprinderile publice,
precum i transparena financiar n cadrul anumitor ntreprinderi se aplic relaiilor financiare dintre
autoritile publice i ntreprinderile publice n ceea ce privete:
a) compensarea pierderilor din activitile de exploatare, respectiv punerea de ctre autoritile
publice la dispoziia ntreprinderilor publice, cu titlu gratuit, a unor sume pentru finanarea
curent sau pentru acoperirea pierderilor curente;
b) furnizarea de capital de ctre stat, respectiv punerea la dispoziia ntreprinderilor publice, cu titlu
gratuit, a unor sume ca aport de capital;
c) alocarea de fonduri nerambursabile de ctre autoritile publice sau acordarea unor credite n
termeni prefereniali ntreprinderilor publice;
d) acordarea de avantaje financiare ntreprinderilor publice prin renunarea la dividende sau la
recuperarea oricror sume datorate;
e) compensaii pentru sarcinile financiare impuse de autoritile publice.

Relaiile financiare dintre autoritile publice i ntreprinderile publice trebuie s fie transparente,
astfel nct s evidenieze n mod clar urmtoarele:
a) punerea la dispoziia ntreprinderilor publice, prin intermediul altor ntreprinderi publice sau al
unor instituii financiare, a unor fonduri publice de ctre autoritile publice;
b) utilizarea efectiv a fondurilor publice primite de ctre ntreprinderile publice.

Regulamentul prevede, de asemenea, obligaiile autoritilor publice n vederea asigurrii transparenei

relaiilor financiare. Regulamentul adoptat n cursul anului 2006 i care transpune Directiva Comisiei
Europene CEE nr.723/1980 - modific definiia ntreprinderii supuse obligaiei de a ine contabilitate separat
i completeaz coninutul unor articole din vechiul regulament.

Astfel, ntreprinderea supus obligaiei de a ine contabilitate separat este definit ca fiind orice
ntreprindere care beneficiaz de drepturi speciale sau exclusive acordate prin/sau n baza unor acte
normative ori administrative sau care este nsrcinat cu prestarea unor servicii de interes economic general i
care primete, sub orice form, o compensare pentru aceste prestaii i, totodat, desfoar i alte activiti.

Sfera relaiilor financiare dintre autoritile publice i ntreprinderile publice este modificat i completat de:
a) compensarea pierderilor din activitatea de exploatare, respectiv punerea de ctre autoritile
publice la dispoziia ntreprinderilor publice, a unor sume pentru finanarea curent sau pentru
acoperirea pierderilor curente, precum i
b) furnizarea de capital de ctre stat, respectiv punerea la dispoziia ntreprinderilor publice a unor
sume ca aport de capital;
c) renunarea la obinerea unor venituri normale de pe urma utilizrii fondurilor publice.

Regulamentul completeaz, de asemenea, i relaiile care nu intr n sfera de aplicabilitate, respectiv:

a) ntreprinderile publice, cu privire la serviciile a cror prestare nu afecteaz, ntr-o msur
apreciabil, comerul dintre statele membre ale UE;
b) ntreprinderile crora le-a fost ncredinat prestarea unui serviciu de interes economic general,
conform legii, dac compensrile pe care le primesc, sub orice form, au fost stabilite pe o
perioad nedeterminat, conform unei proceduri deschise, transparente i nediscriminatorii.

O serie de modificri sunt aduse i modalitii de ntocmire a raportului ce trebuie transmis Comisiei
Europene, precum i la rolul pe care l va juca Consiliul Concurenei n relaia cu executivul comunitar.
Astfel, Romnia, prin Consiliul Concurenei, va transmite Comisiei Europene, la cerere, informaii cu privire
la relaiile financiare dintre autoritile i ntreprinderile publice, precum i cele referitoare la transparena

40
The Regulation stipulates specific provisions on the scope, exemptions and conditions subject to which the

6
compensation of services of general economic interest does not constitute State aid, the amount of the
compensation, the costs required for providing the service, relevant incomes, reasonable profit, incompatible
State aid, over-compensation, transparency and necessity for information.

REGULATION
on the amendment and completion of the Regulation on the transparency of financial relations
between public authorities and public undertakings, as well as on financial transparency within
certain undertakings

The Regulation on the transparency of financial relations between public authorities and public undertakings,
as well as on financial transparency within certain undertakings applies to financial relations between public
authorities and public undertakings as regards:
a) the compensation of operating losses, namely the allocation by public authorities of free amounts to
public undertakings for current financing or compensation of current losses;
b) the provision of capital by the State, namely the allocation of free amounts to public undertakings as
provision of capital;
c) the allocation to public undertakings of non-refundable grants, or loans on preferential terms by the
public authorities;
d) the granting of financial advantages to public undertakings by forgoing profits or recovery of any due
sums;
e) compensations for financial burdens imposed by public authorities.

The financial relations between public authorities and public undertakings have to be transparent so that the
following may be clearly registered:
a) making available by the public authorities of certain public funds in the benefit of public undertakings
through other public undertakings or financial institutions;
b) effective use of public funds received by the public undertakings.

The Regulation also stipulates the obligations of public authorities in view of ensuring the transparency of
financial relations. The Regulation adopted during 2006 and wich transposes the EC Directive no. 723/1980
modifies the definition of the undertaking subject to the obligation of keeping separate accountancy and
completes the content of certain articles of the old Regulation.

Thus, the undertaking subject to the obligation of keeping separate accounting records is defined as any
undertaking benefiting from special or exclusive rights granted through/or on the basis of certain normative or
administrative acts or which is entrusted to provide certain services of general economic interest and which
receives any form of compensation for these services and also, at the same time, performs other activities.

The area of financial relations between public authorities and public undertakings was modified and
completed by:
a) the compensation of operating losses, namely the allocation by public authorities of free amounts to public
undertakings for current financing or compensation of current losses, as well as
b) the provision of capital by the State, namely the allocation free amounts to public undertakings as provision
of capital;
c) giving up on obtaining normal incomes following the use of public funds.

The Regulation also completed the scope of the relations not falling under the provisions of the Regulation,
namely:
a) public undertakings providing services that do not significantly affect trade between Member States;
b) undertakings entrusted with a service of general economic interest, according to the law, if the
compensations received, in any form, have been established for an undetermined period, according to a
open, transparent and non-discriminatory procedure.

Modifications were also brought to the drafting of the Report to be submitted to the European Commission, as
well as to the role of the Competition Council in the relation with the EC.

Thus, Romania, through the Competition Council, shall submit at the European Commission's request
information with regard to the financial relations between public authorities and undertakings, as well as to the

41
6

42
financial transparency within certain undertakings. Moreover, Romania, through the Competition Council,

6
shall submit to the EC financial information on the activity of each public undertaking operating in the
processing industry, as well as any other information required in view of a complete assessment of the
submitted data.

Romania shall submit, through the Competition Council, by the end of March each year, an updated list
including this information, as well as any other information required in view of a complete evaluation of the
submitted data.

REGULATION
on the repeal of certain regulations and guidelines adopted by the
Competition Council in the field of State aid

During the accession negotiations, Romania committed to ensure the compatibility of the national legislation
with the Community acquis on Chapter 6 Competition Policy and to adequately enforce it before accession
in order to prepare the business environment so as to cope with the competitive pressures within the Single
Market.
In this context, the Competition Council adopted a series of regulations and guidelines by which the secondary
Community legislation was transposed into the domestic law.
According to art.2 of the Act on the conditions of accession From the date of accession, the provisions of the
original Treaties and the acts adopted by the institutions shall be binding on Bulgaria and Romania and shall
apply in those States under the conditions laid down in those Treaties and in this Act.
Also, in accordance with art.249 (2) of the Treaty establishing the European Community, the Community
regulations are binding in their entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. As a consequence, starting
with the date of accession, the normative acts transposing the Community regulations shall no longer be
applicable.
In view of full compliance with the Community acquis, without overlaps or infringements, the normative acts
doubling the provisions of the Community regulations or of other Community normative acts which did not
require the adoption of national transposition measures, had to be eliminated from the national law as of
accession.
The abrogation of the State aid secondary legislation was an inter-institutional process, coordinated at national
level by the Ministry of European Integration and had as main aim the abrogation, as of accessione, of the
norms doubling the Community legislation.
In order to ensure the coherence of the normative system, where possible, the abrogation of more regulations
by a single normative act having the same judicial power as the acts subject to the abrogation procedure was
preferred.
Note should be made that the action only envisaged the normative acts that could no longer be applied by the
Competition Council after accession as a consequence of the transfer of competences to the European
Commission. This Regulation repealed 28 normative acts issued by the Competition Council.
Normative acts regulating the national competencies to be carried out after accession by the Competition
Council were not subject to the repealing action.

A complete novelty in the State aid field consisted in the elaboration of the Romanian State aid Policy for
2006-2013. The document was approved by the Romanian Government through Decision no.651/2006.

The Competition Council actively participated in the drafting of this strategic document that created an
adequate framework for a better use of the State resources by means of transparent State aid forms oriented
mainly towards objectives generating economic growth and job creation.

Having in view that the aid authorisation competences were to be transferred from the Competition Council to
the European Commission as of accession, the elaboration of the Romanian State aid Policy Paper was one of
the steps taken to adequately prepare the compliance with the new European requirements even from 2006.
The goal of such preparatory actions was to avoid any syncops in the authorisation of the aid measures that
were to be provided to the Romanian business environment after 2007.

The legislative framework in the State aid field was completed through the adoption of the Government
Decision no.946/19.07.2006 on the maximum intensity of the regional State aid for initial investments.

43
 H.G. nr.946/2006 privind intensitatea maxim a ajutorului de stat regional
6

pentru investiii iniiale

Actul normativ are ca scop determinarea intensitii maxime admisibile a ajutorului de stat naional regional, a
intensitii maxime admisibile a ajutorului de stat regional pentru investiii iniiale ce poate fi acordat n
Romnia ntreprinderilor care nu se ncadreaz n categoria IMM-urilor.

Adoptarea acestui act normativ a fost justificat de necesitatea respectrii Liniilor directoare privind ajutorul
naional regional 2007-2013, adoptate de Comisia European la data de 21 decembrie 2005.

Potrivit acestei hotrri, intensitatea maxim admisibil a ajutorului de stat pentru investiii iniiale n scopul
dezvoltrii regionale, ce poate fi acordat n Romnia ntreprinderilor care nu se ncadreaz n categoria IMM-
uri este:
a) 50% - n cazul regiunii de dezvoltare Nord-Est;
b) 50% - n cazul regiunii de dezvoltare Sud-Est;
c) 50% - n cazul regiunii de dezvoltare Sud-Muntenia;
d) 50% - n cazul regiunii de dezvoltare Sud-Vest Oltenia;
e) 50% - n cazul regiunii de dezvoltare Vest;
f) 50% - n cazul regiunii de dezvoltare Nord-Vest;
g) 50% - n cazul regiunii de dezvoltare Centru;
h) 40% - n cazul regiunii de dezvoltare Bucureti-Ilfov.

H.G. nr.946/2006 a constituit baza legal pentru notificarea ctre Comisia European a hrii ajutorului
regional pentru Romnia n vederea aprobrii de ctre Comisia European9.

Harta ajutorului de stat regional indic regiunile n care poate fi acordat ajutor de stat pentru nfiinarea de
ntreprinderi mici, precum i ajutor de stat pentru acoperirea costurilor de operare. Nu trebuie uitat faptul c
harta ajutorului de stat regional este esenial i n contextul reglementrilor comunitare privind ajutorul de
stat care prevd intensiti ale ajutorului de stat aplicabile n regiuni asistate, precum i n cazul anumitor
reglementri care excepteaz de la obligaia notificrii ajutoarele de stat acordate n regiuni asistate.

Un act normativ foarte important pentru domeniul ajutorului de stat este reprezentat de Ordonana de
Urgen a Guvernului nr.117//2006 privind procedurile naionale n domeniul ajutorului de stat10.

Ordonana de Urgen a Guvernului nr. 117/2006

privind procedurile naionale n domeniul ajutorului de stat

O.U.G. nr.117/2006 a abrogat, ncepnd cu data de 1 ianuarie 2007, Legea nr.143/1999 privind ajutorul
de stat. Abrogarea Legii nr.143/1999 a fost determinat de faptul c, ncepnd cu data aderrii, reglementrile
comunitare n materie de ajutor de stat au devenit direct aplicabile n Romnia.

Prin O.U.G. nr.117/2006 au fost reglementate procedurile naionale n materia ajutorului de stat, n vederea
aplicrii art. 87-89 din Tratatul de instituire a Comunitii Europene i a legislaiei secundare adoptate n baza
acestuia. Ajutorul de stat nou, supus obligaiei de notificare, nu poate fi acordat dect dup autorizarea
acestuia de ctre Comisia European sau dup ce acesta este considerat a fi fost autorizat.

ncepnd cu 1 ianuarie 2007, Consiliul Concurenei ndeplinete rolul de autoritate de contact n raporturile
dintre Comisia European i autoritile i instituiile publice, inclusiv instituiile publice implicate n procesul
de privatizare, ali furnizori i beneficiarii de ajutor de stat.

Consiliul Concurenei acord asisten de specialitate n domeniu furnizorilor i beneficiarilor de ajutor de

stat, pentru asigurarea ndeplinirii obligaiilor asumate de Romnia n acest domeniu, n calitate de stat
membru al Uniunii Europene. Sprijinul este acordat inclusiv n cadrul procesului de elaborare a actelor
normative sau administrative prin care se instituie msuri de natura ajutorului de stat. De asemenea,
autoritatea de concuren colaboreaz cu furnizorii i beneficiarii de ajutor de stat pentru aplicarea
corespunztoare a legislaiei comunitare.

44
 Government Decision no. 946/2006

6
regarding the maximum intensity of the regional State aid for initial investments

The purpose of this normative act was to establish the maximum admissible intensity of the national regional
aid and the maximum admissible intensity of the regional aid for initial investments that may be granted in
Romania to companies that do not belong to the category of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The adoption of the Guidelines on national regional aid for 2007-2013 by the European Commission on the
21st of December 2005 called for its observance and determined the adoption of the aforesaid national act.

In compliance with the provisions of the Government Decision, the maximum admissible intensity of State
aid for initial invesments in regional development that may be granted to Romanian companies that are not
SMEs was set at:

a) 50% - for the North-East development region;

b) 50% - for the South-East development region;
c) 50% - for the South-Muntenia development region;
d) 50% - for the South-West Oltenia development region;
e) 50% - for the West development region;
f) 50% - for the North-West development region;
g) 50% - for the Centre development region;
h) 40% - for Bucharest-Ilfov development region.

The Government Decision no.946/2006 served as a legal basis for the notification to the European
Commission of Romania's regional aid map, with a view to obtain its approval9.

The regional aid map indicates the regions where State aid may be granted for setting up small companies as
well as for covering the operating costs. It should not be overlooked the fact that the regional aid map also plays
an important role concerning the Community State aid regulations providing State aid intensities applicable in
the assisted areas, as well as those regulations that allow the exemption from notification of the State aid
granted in assisted areas.

A very important normative act issued in this domanin was the Emergency Government Ordinance
no.117/2006 regarding the national procedures in the field of State aid10.

The Emergency Government Ordinance no. 117/2006

regarding the national procedures in the State aid field

From the 1st of January 2007, the Emergency Government Ordinance (hereinafter EGO) no.117/2006
abolished the State aid Law no.143/1999. The abrogation of the State aid Law no.143/1999 was required by
the fact that the Community State aid regulations became directly applicabile as of accession.

The adoption of EGO no.117/2006 aimed at regulating the national procedures on State aid for the the
application of art.87-89 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (EC Treaty) and of the secondary
legislation based on art. 87-89. According to the currnet legal framework, new aid falling under the scope of
notification can not be granted unless it benefits from the authorisation of the European Commission or it has
already been considered authorised.

Starting with the 1st of January 2007, the Competition Council is the national contact authority in the relations
between the European Commission and the national public authorities and institutions, including the
institutions having responsibilities in the privatisation process, as well as other State aid grantors and
beneficiaries.

The Competition Council is competent to provide specialised State aid assistance to the grantors and recipients
in order to ensure the fulfillement of the obligations undertaken by Romania as member of the European
Union, including assistance in the process of drafting normative or administrative acts establishing State aid
measures. Also, the Romanian competition authority shall cooperate with the aid grantors and beneficiaries
and support them towards a proper application of the specific Community legislation.

45
 Site-ul Consiliului Concurenei devine punct naional de informare i va conine informaii publice privind
6

adoptarea de ctre Comisia European a deciziilor n domeniul ajutorului de stat. Prin elaborarea de publicaii
i alte materiale informative, precum i prin organizarea de seminarii, mese rotunde i conferine, Consiliul
Concurenei va asigura informarea autoritilor, a furnizorilor de ajutor de stat, a beneficiarilor i a publicului
privind reglementrile europene n domeniu.

2.2. Evoluii n domeniul ajutorului de stat

2.2.1. Anul 2006 n cifre

a) investigaii deschise

n cursul anului 2006, Consiliul Concurenei a deschis 3 investigaii din oficiu, avnd ca obiect analiza
msurilor de sprijin financiar de care au beneficiat SC Lamdro SA i Compania Naional Loteria Romn,
precum i un numr de 6 operatori economici care activeaz n zone defavorizate i care au depit limita
maxim admis a intensitii.
b) investigaii finalizate

Activitatea desfurat n domeniul ajutorului de stat, s-a concretizat, printre altele, n finalizarea unui numr
de 12 investigaii, din care 9 au fost declanate n anul 2005, iar 3 n anul 2006 (Tabelul nr.7).

* Prin Decizia nr. 52/2006 s-a dispus recuperarea i stoparea ajutoarelor de stat pentru dezvoltare regional
acordate, peste limita de intensitate maxim admis.
** Prin decizia nr.211/2006 s-a dispus recuperarea ajutoarelor de stat ilegale i incompatibile cu mediul
concurenial normal, respectiv stoparea acordrii de ajutoare, n cazul unor ageni economici care i desfurau
activitatea n zone defavorizate.

SC MOLDOFOREST SA IAI

n urma unui control efectuat de ctre Inspectoratul de concuren Iai la SC MOLDOFOREST SA Iai, s-a
constatat c acestei societi i-au fost acordate, n cadrul procesului de privatizare, anumite msuri de sprijin
susceptibile a constitui ajutor de stat. Prin urmare, n conformitate cu prevederile legii ajutorului de stat, a fost
declanat investigaia avnd ca obiect analiza msurilor de sprijin susceptibile a constitui ajutoare de stat
acordate SC MOLDOFOREST SA la privatizare, precum i a compatibilitii acestora cu condiiile impuse de
legislaia n materie de ajutor de stat.

Msurile de sprijin financiar care au fcut obiectul investigaiei au constat n faciliti la plata unor obligaii
restante ctre bugetul consolidat al statului i ctre bugetul local al municipiului Iai.

SC MOLDOFOREST SA este o societate de exploatare i prelucrare a masei lemnoase, care obine din
activitatea desfaurat buteni, lemn de foc, cherestea, ambalaje i semifabricate. Societatea desfoar ca
activiti secundare: transporturi forestiere pentru teri i reparaii auto pentru utilajele din dotare.

46
The Competition Council shall publish on its website, which becomes the national point of information, all

6
relevant information regarding the adoption by the European Commission of the decisions in the State aid
field. The Competition Council shall continue to informe the involved authorities, the aid grantors, the aid
beneficiaries and the public in general about the relevant European regulations through the elaboration of
specialised publication and informative documents and the organisation of seminars, roundtables and
conferences.

2.2. Recent developments in the field of state aid

2.2.1. 2006 in figures

a) opened investigations

During 2006, the Competition Council opened 3 ex-officio investigations having as subject the analysis of the
financial support measures granted to SC Lamdro SA, to the National Company Loteria Romn, as well
as to 6 undertakings from the deprived areas that received aid over the maximum admissible intensity.

b) completed investigations

In 2006, 12 investigations were finalised, out of which 9 were opened in 2005 and 3 in 2006 (Table no. 7).

finalized

from

* By Decision no.52/2006 the Competition Council ordered the recovery and ceasing of the granting of regional
development aid that exceeded the maximum admissible intensity
** By Decision no.211/2006 the Competition Council ordered the recovery of the illegal and incompatible State
aid granted, respectively the ceasing of the granting of State aid to certain undertakings operating in the deprived
areas

SC MOLDOFOREST SA Iasi

Following a control at SC MOLDOFOREST SA, carried out by the Iasi territorial inspectorate, the Competition
Council noted that during the privatisation process the company benefited of some support measures likely to
represent State aid. Thus, in accordance with the State aid law, an investigation was opened having as subject
the analysis of the support measures likely to represent State aid granted to SC MOLDOFOREST SA at
privatisation. Also, the investigation assessed the compatibility of these measures with the conditions provided
in the State aid legislation.

The analysed financial support measures consisted in facilities for the payment of the obligations due to the
consolidated State budget and to the city of Iasi local budget.

SC MOLDOFOREST SA is a wood exploiting and processing company that produces: logs, wood for fire,
timber, wood-packaging and semi-finished products. The company has as additional activities: forest transport
for third parties and maintenance of its own equipment and machines.

47
 Beneficiarii produselor comercializate pe piaa intern sunt:
6

= ageni economici din industria de prelucrare primar a lemnului care proceseaz butenii pentru a
obine semifabricate;
= productori de panouri de lemn i/sau semifabricate cu un grad superior de finisare i, nu n ultimul
rnd, productori de mobil, care achiziioneaz cherestea;
= diveri utilizatori de ambalaje din lemn;
= societi comerciale i persoane fizice care utilizeaz lemne de foc.

Obiectivul ajutorului de stat este restructurarea SC MOLDOFOREST Iai SA n vederea restaurrii viabilitii
societii la sfritul perioadei de restructurare. Ajutorul este condiionat de implementarea unui plan de
restructurare fezabil, coerent i care s demonstreze viabilitatea pe termen lung a ntreprinderii. n acest sens,
Regulamentul privind ajutorul de stat pentru salvarea i restructurarea ntreprinderilor n dificultate prevede c
restructurarea implic de obicei unul sau mai multe din urmtoarele elemente: reorganizarea i raionalizarea
activitilor ntreprinderii pe o baz ct mai eficient, implicnd de regul retragerea din activitile
generatoare de pierderi, restructurarea activitilor existente care pot redeveni competitive i, uneori,
diversificarea lor n direcia unor activiti noi i rentabile. Restructurarea industrial trebuie s fie nsoit, de
regul, de cea financiar (injecii de capital, reducerea gradului de ndatorare etc.).

Evaluarea de ctre Consiliul Concurenei a ajutorului de stat pentru SC MOLDOFOREST SA s-a realizat
conform criteriilor prevzute n Regulament, urmrind, n principal:
a) eligibilitatea societii societate n dificultate;
b) restaurarea viabilitii pe termen lung;
c) prevenirea distorsionrii excesive a concurenei;
d) dimensionarea corect a ajutorului care trebuie limitat la minimum necesar (proporionalitatea
ajutorului);
e) respectarea principiului prima i ultima dat;
f) asigurarea ndeplinirii obiectivelor coninute de Planul de restructurare i monitorizarea permanent a
modului de implementare a acestuia;

n urma analizei compatibilitii msurilor de ajutor de stat cu legislaia n domeniu, Consiliul Concurenei a
decis autorizarea ajutorului de stat pentru restructurare, cu condiia implementrii totale a planului de
restructurare i a reducerii capacitilor de producie pn n 2007, conform programului de restructurare
asumat.
Valoarea ajutorului de stat autorizat a fost de 8.894.842 lei.

SC IMUT SA

n cazul SC IMUT SA Bucureti investigaia a avut ca obiect analiza caracterului de ajutor de stat al msurilor de
sprijin notificate, ce se urmau a fi acordate S.C. IMUT S.A. la privatizare, precum i a compatibilitii acestora
cu condiiile impuse de legislaia n materie de ajutor de stat. Msurile de sprijin constau n nlesniri la plata
obligaiilor bugetare.

Principala activitate economic desfurat de societate o constituie productia de rezervoare, cisterne si

containere metalice. Pe lng obiectul principal de activitate, societatea desfoar o serie de activiti
secundare: activitatea de proiectare pentru containere, utilaj petrolier, recipiente sub presiune; structuri i
tmplrie metalic; prelucrri mecanice; ambalaje; articole de fierrie i feronerie, recuperare deeuri i
resturi metalice; lucrri de instalaii electrice; transporturi rutiere de mrfuri; modernizri butelii; reparaii
utilaj petrolier; sablri.

S.C. IMUT S.A. activeaz pe urmtoarele piee relevante: construcii metalice; producie de rezervoare,
recipiente metalice i containere; utilaj petrolier i operaiuni de mecanic general. S.C. IMUT S.A. execut i
comercializeaz produse pentru o gam larg de beneficiari din diverse ramuri industriale, ca industria chimic
i petrochimic, industriile petrolier, metalurgic, constructoare de masini, energetic, celulozei i hartiei,
materialelor de construcii, cat si pentru parteneri straini.

n urma analizei msurilor de sprijin din punct de vedere al compatibilitii cu reglementrile legale n materie
de ajutor de stat, Consiliul Concurenei a decis autorizarea ajutorului de stat, cu condiia implementrii n
totalitate a planului de restructurare i a reducerii capacitilor de producie pn n anul 2011 conform
programului de restructurare asumat.

Valoarea ajutorului de stat s-a ridicat la 31.069.581,4 lei.

48
The company's beneficiaries on the domestic market are the following:

6
= undertakings that process log to obtain semi-finished products;
= producers of wood panel and/or of high quality semi-finished products, as well as furniture producers
that buy the timber;
= users of wood packaging;
= companies and natural persons using wood for fire.

The objective of the State aid consisted in the restructuring of SC MOLDOFOREST SA Iasi in order to restore
the company's viability at the end of the restructuring period. The State aid was conditioned by the
implementation of a feasible, coherent restructuring plan that had to prove the long term viability of the
company. The Regulation on State aid for rescuing and restructuring firms in difficulty provides that the
restructuring process usually involves one or more elements, such as: the reorganisation and rationalisation of
the activities in an efficient way, generally involving the closure of the loss making activities; the restructuring of
the existing activities that could become competitive and, sometimes, their diversification in order to become
profitable. The industrial restructuring have to be usually accompanied by a financial one (capital injections,
reduction of debts etc).

The Competition Council's assessment of the State aid granted to SC MOLDOFOREST SA was made according
to the criteria provided by the applicable Regulation, as follows:
a) company's eligibility firm in difficulty;
b) restoring the long term viability;
c) preventing excessive distortion of competition;
d) State aid limited to the minimum necessary (proportionality criterion);
e) observing the first time, last time principle;
f) permanently monitoring the restructuring plan's implementation so that the established objectives are
fulfilled;

Following the analysis, the Competition Council decided to authorise the State aid for restructuring, also
requesting the company to implement the restructuring plan in its entirety and to reduce its production
capacities by 2007 in line with the assumed restructuring program.

The total level of authorised State aid amounted to 8,894,842 lei.

SC IMUT SA

In case of SC IMUT SA Bucharest, the investigation had as subject the analysis of the State aid nature of the
support measures notified so to be granted to the company at privatisation, as well as the assessment of the
compatibility of these measures with the conditions provided in the State aid legislation. The support measures
consisted in facilities for the payment of the budgetary obligations.

The company has as the main object of activity the production of reservoirs, tanks and metallic containers.
Other additional activities of the company are: the design of containers, oil equipments, pressurised tanks; the
production of metallic structures; mechanic processing; production of packaging; fabrication of iron products;
recovery of metallic waste; electrical works; road transportation of goods; modernisation of small gas
containers; oil equipment maintenance; sanding.

SC IMUT SA operates on the following relevant markets: metallic constructions; production of reservoirs,
metallic tanks and containers; production of oil equipment; general mechanic operations. SC IMUT SA
manufactures and sells products to national or foreign beneficiaries from various industries: chemical industry,
oil industry, metallurgical industry, machines construction industry, energy industry, paper and cellulose
industry, construction industry.

Following the analysis, the Competition Council decided to authorise the State aid for restructuring, also
requesting the company to implement the restructuring plan in its entirety and to reduce its production
capacities by 2011 in line with the assumed restructuring program.

The total level of authorised State aid amounted to 31,069,581.4 lei.

49
 SC ICMRS SA Galai
6

n urma unui control efectuat de ctre Inspectoratul de concuren Galai la SC ICMRS SA Galai, s-a constatat
c acestei societi i-au fost acordate, n cadrul procesului de privatizare, anumite msuri de sprijin susceptibile
a constitui ajutor de stat.

Investigaia declanat a avut ca obiect analiza msurilor de sprijin susceptibile a constitui ajutor de stat
acordate SC ICMRS SA Galai la privatizare, precum i a compatibilitii acestora cu condiiile impuse de
reglementrile n materie de ajutor de stat. Msurile de sprijin au constat n scutiri de la plata taxelor i
impozitelor i ealonarea de datorii.

Societatea activeaz pe urmtoarele piee relevante: montaj instalaii electrice i tehnologice, construcii
civile, lucrri de infrastructur i hidrotehnice, producie de structuri i confecii metalice.

ntruct societatea era n dificultate, ajutorul de stat poate fi considerat compatibil numai dac sunt ndeplinite
criteriile prevzute de Regulamentul privind ajutorul de stat pentru salvarea i restructurarea ntreprinderilor n
dificultate. Analiza compatibilitii msurilor de sprijin acordate SC ICMRS SA Galai a pus n eviden faptul c
ajutorul de stat individual de care a beneficiat societatea este compatibil cu mediul concurenial normal i nu
afecteaz semnificativ comerul cu statele membre.

n urma evalurii, Consiliul Concurenei a autorizat ajutorul de stat pentru SC ICMRS SA Galai, cu condiia
implementrii n totalitate a planului de restructurare i a reducerii capacitilor de producie pn n anul
2009 conform programului de restructurare asumat.

Valoarea ajutorului de stat s-a ridicat la 167.406.868 lei.

SC MITTAL STEEL SA IAI

Autoritatea pentru Valorificarea Activelor Statului (AVAS) a notificat Consiliului Concurenei ajutorul de stat
individual pentru restructurarea societii SC MITTAL STEEL SA IAI, ajutor acordat n contextul privatizrii
acesteia. ntruct informaiile furnizate de AVAS nu au fost de natur s justifice compatibilitatea ajutorului cu
legislaia din domeniul ajutorului de stat, Consiliul Concurenei a declanat investigaie avnd ca obiect
verificarea compatibilitii msurilor de care urma s beneficieze SC MITTAL STEEL SA IAI.

Societatea produce i comercializeaz evi sudate longitudinal i profile laminate la rece, vnzarea acestora
viznd att piaa intern ct i piaa extern.

Analiza caracterului i compatibilitii msurilor de sprijin acordate SC MITTAL STEEL SA IAI s-a realizat n
baza reglementrilor Legii nr.143/1999, republicat, i a Regulamentului privind ajutorul de stat pentru
salvarea i restructurarea ntreprinderilor n dificultate.

Deschiderea investigaiei s-a datorat existenei unor ndoieli cu privire la eligibilitatea societii, din moment ce
aceasta fusese preluat de un grup mare de firme. n acest sens, Consiliul Concurenei a solicitat AVAS s
demonstreze c msura nu reprezint ajutor de stat indirect n beneficiul clienilor, deoarece prin
subvenionarea serviciului de acoperiri metalice furnizat de SC MITTAL STEEL SA IAI costurile de producie
ale clienilor ar putea fi diminuate. Consiliul Concurenei a avut n vedere c unul dintre clienii principali ai
beneficiarului este Mittal Steel Galai, care nu poate beneficia, direct sau indirect, de ajutor de restructurare.

Cu privire la resursele financiare care susin contribuia proprie a beneficiarului, Consiliul Concurenei i-a
exprimat ndoielile n legtur cu modul de calcul i nivelul ridicat al plilor compensatorii din moment ce
acestea reprezint 25% din costurile totale ale restructurrii.

n urma investigaiei, s-a stabilit c msurile de ajutor de stat sunt compatibile cu mediul concurenial normal.
Prin urmare, Consiliul Concurenei a autorizat acordarea unui ajutor n valoare de 43 196 790 lei, cu condiia
implementrii n totalitate a planului de restructurare i a reducerii capacitilor de producie pn n anul
2008, conform programului de restructurare asumat.

50
SC ICMRS SA Galati

6
Following a control carried out by the Galati territorial inspectorate, the Competition Council noted that SC
ICMRS SA Galati received, during the privatisation process, some support measures likely to represent State
aid.

The investigation opened had as object the assessment of the support measures granted to SC ICMRS SA Galati
at privatisation likely to represent State aid. Also, during the investigation, the Competition Council examined
the compatibility of the measures with the conditions provided by the State aid legislation. The support
measures consisted in the exemption from the payment of taxes and debts rescheduling.

The company operates on the following markets: fitting of technological and electrical installations, civil
constructions, infrastructure and hydro technical works, production of metallic structures.

Since the company was in difficulty, the State aid could have been considered compatible subject to the
observance of the criteria provided by the Regulation on State aid for rescuing and restructuring firms in
difficulty. The compatibility assessment underlined that the individual State aid granted to the company was
compatible with a normal competitive environment and did not significantly affect trade between member
states.

Following the analysis, the Competition Council decided to authorise the State aid for restructuring, also
requesting the company to implement the restructuring plan in its entirety and to reduce its production
capacities by 2009 in line with the assumed restructuring program.

The total level of authorised State aid amounted to 167,406,868 lei.

SC MITTAL STEEL SA Iasi

The Authority for State Assets Recovery (AVAS) notified to the Competition Council the individual State aid for
the restructuring of SC MITTAL STEEL SA Iasi. The aid was granted for the company's privatisation. Since the
information submitted by AVAS was not sufficient to justify the compatibility of the State aid with the applicable
legislation, the Competition Council opened an investigation in order to assess the compatibility of the
measures that were to be granted to SC MITTAL STEEL SA Iasi.

The company manufactures and sells welded pipes and cold-rolled profiles on domestic and external markets.

The assessment of the support measures granted to SC Mittal Steel SA Iasi was carried out on the basis of the
State aid Law no.143/1999, republished, and of the Regulation on State aid for rescuing and restructuring firms
in difficulty.

The investigation was opened due to the existence of some doubts regarding the company's eligibility since it
was taken over by a group of firms. In this context, the Competition Council requested AVAS to demonstrate
that the measure did not represent indirect State aid in the benefit of the company's clients since the clients'
production costs could have been reduced by subsidising the metallic cover service provided by SC MITTAL
STEEL SA Iasi. The Competition Council had in view that one of the company's main clients was SC MITTAL
STEEL Galati that was not allowed to benefit, directly or indirectly, from restructuring State aid.

As concerns the beneficiary's financial contribution, the Competition Council expressed its doubts related to
the calculation and to the high level of compensatory payments that represented 25% of the total cost of the
restructuring.

As a result of the investigation, the Competition Council established that the State aid measures are compatible
with a normal competitive environment. Therefore, the Competition Council authorised the State aid in total
amount of 43,196,790 lei. The competition authority also requested the company to implement the
restructuring plan in its entirety and to reduce its production capacities by 2008, according to the assumed
restructuring program.

51
 c) investigaii n curs
6

Investigaiile n curs la finele anului 200611 au ncetat de drept la data aderrii Romniei la Uniunea European,
n conformitate cu prevederile O.U.G nr. 117/2006 privind procedurile naionale n domeniul ajutorului de
stat.

d) activitatea decizional

n cursul anului 2006, Consiliul Concurenei a emis un numr de 102 de decizii n domeniul ajutorului de
stat, dintre care trebuie menionate cele 7 decizii privind stoparea sau recuperarea unor ajutoare de stat
ilegale (Tabelul nr.8, Graficul nr.4).

2,9% 2,0% 2,0%

2,9%

40,2% 50,0%

Autorizare conditionata Masuri ce nu constituie ajutor de stat Recuperare

Stopare si recuperare Autorizare Stopare

Un aspect deosebit de important n activitatea decizional a anului 2006, l-a reprezentat adoptarea a 7 decizii
de stopare sau recuperare a ajutoarelor de stat, de care au beneficiat o serie de ageni economici din zonele
defavorizate, COMPANIA NAIONAL LOTERIA ROMN, SC ROMNED COMPANY SRL i SC LAMDRO
SA, reflectate n tabelul nr 9:
Tabelul nr. 9. Decizii de stopare/recuperare a ajutoarelor de stat emise n anul 2006

52
c) ongoing investigations

6
According to the provisions of EGO no.117/2006 on national procedures in the State aid field, the Competition
Council's ongoing investigations were de jure brought to an end at the date of Romania's accession to the
European Union11.

d) decision-making process

In 2006, the Competition Council issued 102 decisions in the field of State aid, out of which it is worthy
mentioning the 7 decisions ordering the stopping or recovery of the illegal State aid (Table no. 8,
Graph no.4).

2,9% 2,0% 2,0%

2,9%

40,2% 50,0%

Conditional authorization Authorization Stopping and recovery

Recovery Measures which are not state aid Stopping

A very important aspect of the 2006 decision-making activity consisted in the adoption of 7 decisions for
stopping or recovering the State aid granted to several undertakings from the deprived areas, to the NATIONAL
COMPANY LOTERIA ROMN, to SC ROMNED COMPANY SRL and to SC LAMDRO SA, as presented in
Table no.9.

53
 Aciunile de control ntreprinse de Consiliul Concurenei, prin intermediul inspectoratelor teritoriale de
6

concuren, n rndul agenilor economici care i desfoar activitatea n zone defavorizate, au condus la
identificarea unor societi beneficiare de ajutor de stat care au depit intensitatea maxim admis a
ajutorului de stat.

n aceste situaii, Consiliul Concurenei, a dispus fie recuperarea ajutoarelor acordate peste limita
maxim a intensitii, fie, n cazul societilor care au atins nivelul maxim, stoparea acordrii ajutoarelor
de stat.

SC ROMNED COMPANY SRL Zona Liber Constana Sud

n baza puterilor conferite de lege, Consiliul Concurenei a ntreprins, prin intermediul inspectoratelor
teritoriale de concuren, aciuni de control la un numr de 35 de ageni economici care i desfoar
activitatea n zonele libere.

n urma analizei rapoartelor privind monitorizarea agenilor economici din zonele libere, s-a constatat c SC
ROMNED COMPANY SRL a depit nivelul maxim admisibil al intensitii ajutorului de stat.

Investigaia deschis a confirmat depirea nivelului maxim admis al intensitii ajutorului de stat de care a
beneficiat societatea. Intensitatea ajutorului de stat primit de S.C. ROMNED COMPANY SRL sub forma
reducerii de la plata impozitului pe venit i diminurii redevenei a fost de 87%, n loc de 65%.

Ajutorul acordat peste limita maxim admis a intensitii este incompatibil att cu prevederile Tratatului de
Aderare a Romniei la Uniunea European, ct i cu prevederile Legii nr.84/1992 privind regimul zonelor
libere, cu modificrile i completrile ulterioare.

Fa de cele de mai sus, Consiliul Concurenei a constatat c ajutorul de stat acordat peste limita maxim
admis a intensitii reprezint ajutor de stat ilegal, dispunnd recuperarea acestuia i a dobnzii aferente.

SC LAMDRO SA Drobeta Turnu Severin

Ministerul Finanelor Publice a informat Consiliul Concurenei cu privire la facilitile fiscale, sub forma scutirii
de la plat a unor penaliti i majorri de ntrziere datorate bugetului de stat, de care a beneficiat SC
LAMDRO SA. De asemenea, Ministerul Economiei i Comerului a informat Consiliului Concurenei cu privire
12
la faptul c SC LAMDRO SA este productor de produse CECO i c societatea nu a fost inclus n Strategia
naional de restructurare a industriei siderurgice din Romnia.

Consiliul Concurenei a declanat o investigaie avnd ca obiect analiza msurilor de sprijin de care a beneficiat
SC LAMDRO SA.

n urma investigaiei, s-a constatat c ajutoarele acordate de ctre Ministerul Finanelor Publice societii mai
sus amintite, sunt ilegale, fiind acordate fr a fi notificate i autorizate de Consiliul Concurenei. Aceasta ar
putea s beneficieze de ajutor de stat pentru salvare i/sau restructurare numai n condiiile respectrii
prevederilor stipulate n protocolul privind produsele CECO.

Avnd n vedere c societatea SC LAMDRO SA nu este inclus n lista societilor beneficiare de ajutor de stat
pentru restructurare, ajutorul de stat de care a beneficiat este considerat ilegal i incompatibil cu prevederile
Protocolului 2 privind produsele CECO, precum i cu Anexa la Acordul European13.

Fa de cele de mai sus, Consiliul Concurenei a dispus recuperarea ajutorului de stat precum i a
dobnzii aferente.

54
The controls carried out by the Competition Council, through its territorial inspectorates, concerning the

6
undertakings operating in deprived areas, outlined that certain companies had received aid over the maximum
admissible intensity.

Under these circumstances, the Competition Council ordered the recovery of the State aid that was
granted over the maximum admissible intensity or the stopping of further aid from being granted to those
companies that had reached the maximum admissible intensity.

SC ROMNED COMPANY SRL Constanta Sud Free Zone

On the basis of its legal competences, the territorial inspectorates of the Competition Council controlled 35
undertakings operating in the free zones.

Following the analysis of the Reports on the monitoring of the undertakings from the free zones, the
competition authority found out that SC ROMNED COMPANY SRL exceeded the maximum admissible
intensity of State aid.

The investigation opened by the Competition Council confirmed that the company had exceeded the
maximum admissible intensity of State aid. In case of SC ROMNED COMPANY SRL, the aid granted as profit
tax and royalty reduction reached an intensity of 87%, instead of 65%.

The aid granted over the maximum admissible intensity was incompatible both with the Accession Treaty of
Romania and with Law no.84/1992 on the free zones regime, as subsequently amended and completed.

Having in view the aforesaid elements, the Competition Council established that the State aid granted over the
maximum admissible intensity is unlawful State aid and ordered its recovery, including the afferent
interest.

SC LAMDRO SA Drobeta Turnu Severin

The Ministry of Public Finances informed the Competition Council about the granting to SC LAMDRO SA of
certain fiscal facilities as exemption from the payment of delay penalties and charges due towards the State
budget. Also, the Ministry of Economy and Trade informed the Competition Council that SC LAMDRO SA is a
producer of ECSC products12 and that the company was not included in the National Restructuring Strategy of
the steel industry.

The Competition Council opened an investigation with the aim to assess the support measures granted to SC
LAMDRO SA.

Following this investigation, the competition authority noted that the State aid granted by the Ministry of Public
Finances to the above mentioned company was unlawful since it had been provided without being previously
notified to the Competition Council or authorised by this institution. SC LAMDRO SA could have benefited of
rescue and/or restructuring State aid only subject to a strict observance of the provisions of Protocol 2 on ECSC
products.

Taking into consideration that SC LAMDRO SA was not included on the list of steel companies that could
benefit from restructuring State aid, the aid received by this company was considered unlawful and
incompatible with the provisions of Protocol 2 on ECSC products, as well as with the Annex to the European
Agreement13.

Having in view the aforesaid elements, the Competition Council ordered the recovery of the State aid,
including the related interest.

55
 COMPANIA NAIONAL LOTERIA ROMN
6

n urma sesizrii Asociaiei Organizatorilor de Pariuri din Romnia cu privire la tratamentul preferenial de care
beneficiaz CN Loteria Romn pe piaa jocurilor de noroc, Consiliul Concurenei a analizat situaia existent
pe piaa jocurilor de noroc i a constatat c reglementrile legale n domeniu prevd acordarea unor msuri de
sprijin financiar Loteriei Romne, msuri de care nu beneficiaz i ceilali operatori de pe pia.

Msurile de sprijin de care beneficiaz Loteria Romn sunt instituite printr-o serie de acte normative i
vizeaz: acordarea de licen prin efectul legii, exceptarea de la plata taxei de timbru social, precum i msuri
de alt natur.
n urma analizei msurilor de sprijin pentru organizarea i exploatarea jocurilor Pariloto i Videoloterie, sub
forma:
a) acordrii de licen prin efectul legii;
b) exceptrii de la perceperea i virarea taxei de timbru social;
c) exceptrii de la perceperea i virarea taxelor, impozitelor i contribuiilor de orice fel aferente sumelor
percepute pentru participarea la jocurile de noroc, Consiliul Concurenei a constatat c acestea
reprezint ajutor de stat ilegal i incompatibil cu un mediu concurenial normal.

n consecin, Consiliul Concurenei a hotrt recuperarea ajutorului de stat i a dobnzii aferente. Totodat,
s-a dispus i stoparea acordrii de ajutor de stat sub formele mai sus menionate, formulndu-se ctre
Ministerul Finanelor Publice, propuneri de modificare a cadrului normativ cu privire la tratamentul
preferenial acordat CN Loteria Romn i definirea cu exactitate a ariei de exclusivitate a acesteia.

Din totalul celor 92 de decizii de autorizare (inclusiv cele de autorizare condiionat), n funcie de obiectivele
urmrite, ajutoarele de stat pentru restructurare i ajutoarele de stat pentru servicii de interes economic
general au deinut cele mai importante ponderi, de 40,2% i, respectiv, de 31,5%. (Graficul nr. 5).

9 1
(9,8%) (1,1%)
16
(17,4%)

29 37
(31,5%) (40,2%)

Restructurare Servicii de interes economic general

Dezvoltare regionala Salvare Promovarea culturii

Consiliul Concurenei a autorizat, pentru prima dat, o schem de ajutor de stat destinat promovrii
culturii i conservrii patrimoniului cultural, prin susinerea produciei de filme.

Centrul naional al cinematografiei a notificat Consiliului Concurenei ajutorul de stat sub forma unei scheme
pentru cinematografie, avnd ca obiect producia de filme de toate genurile.

Obiectivele acestei scheme sunt:

a) dezvoltarea i modernizarea industriei de filme i a pieei cinematografice;
b) susinerea creaiei i industriei cinematografice, prin promovarea unor politici financiare coerente,
compatibile pe plan european;
c) promovarea de noi talente regizorale prin alocarea de ajutoare de stat unor filme de debut.

56
NATIONAL COMPANY LOTERIA ROMN

6
Following the complaint filed by he Romanian Association of Betting Operators as regards the preferential
treatment instituted in favour of Loteria Romana on the gambling market, the Competition Council analysed
this market and noted that the rules established for this field provided for the granting of certain financial
support measures only for Loteria Romana and not in the benefit of all incumbents.

The support measures set up in favour of Loteria Romana were established thorugh several normative acts and
designed for: license granting directly through legislative enactment, exemption from the payment of the social
stamp tax, as well as measures of other nature.
The Competition Council found out that the support measures established for organising and exploiting
Pariloto and Videoloterie gambling games were unlawful State aid, incompatible with a normal competitive
environment. These measures consisted in:
a) the granting of license directly through legislative enactment;
b) exemption from the payment of social stamp tax;
c) exemption from the payment of taxes and other contributions of any kind related to the amounts
required for the participation in gambling activities.

Consequently, the Competition Council ordered the recovery of the State aid granted, including the related
interest. Also, the competition authority requested the stopping of State aid from being further granted in the
above mentioned forms. Moreover, proposals to the Ministry of Public Finances were made with a view to
amend the normative framework concerning the preferential treatment granted to Loteria Romana and to to
define precisely the exclusivity area granted to this company.

Out of the 92 authorisation decisions (also including the conditional authorisation decisions), the
restructuring State aid and the State aid for services of general economic interest had the highest share in
the total with 40.2% and 31.5% (Graph no.5).

9 1
(9,8%) (1,1%)
16
(17,4%)

29 37
(31,5%) (40,2%)

Restructuring Services of general economic interest

Regional development Rescue Competition advocacy

In 2006, the Competition Council authorised for the first time a State aid scheme set up to promote
culture and heritage conservation, by supporting the production of movies.

The National Cinematography Centre notified to the Competition Council a State aid scheme for
cinematography, having as purpose the production of all types of movies.

The objectives of this State aid scheme were:

a) developing and modernising the movie industry and the cinematographic market;
b) supporting the cinematographic creation activity and industry by promoting coherent financial policies,
compatible at European level
c) promoting new talents among movies' directors by allocating State aids for certain debut movies.

57
 n urma evalurii, Consiliul Concurenei a stabilit c aceast schem are caracter de ajutor de stat i c este
6

compatibil cu prevederile Regulamentului privind ajutorul de stat pentru producia cinematografic i de

televiziune.

Suma total estimat a se acorda n baza schemei notificate se ridic la 74.500.000 lei.

e) Valoarea total a ajutoarelor autorizate n 2006

Valoarea total a ajutoarelor de stat autorizate n anul 2006 a fost de 7.387.006.042 lei (2.095 901.842
euro14), din care 63,6% au reprezentat ajutoarele acordate pentru prestarea de servicii de interes
economic general (Tabelul nr. 10, Graficul nr.6).

2,5% 5,4%
1,0%

27,6%
63,6%

Serviciu de interes economic general Salvare Restructurare

Promovarea culturii Dezvoltare regionala

f) Recuperarea ajutoarelor de stat

n 2006, Consiliului Concurenei a continuat aciunile de recuperare a ajutoarelor de stat calificate ca fiind
incompatibile cu legislaia n materie de ajutor de stat.

n acest context, n urma aciunilor intense ale Consiliului Concurenei, au fost recuperate ajutoare de stat
ilegale i incompatibile n valoare total de 82.475.878,86 lei (aprox. 23,4 milioane EUR) (Tabelul nr.11,
Graficul nr.7, Anexa nr.2).

Din aceast sum, 58,8% reprezint rambursri voluntare efectuate de societile Mittal Steel Galai SA,
SC Silcotub SA Zalu, SC Artrom SA Slatina, precum i de ali ageni economici identificai n urma aciunilor
de control desfurate de Consiliul Concurenei n zonele defavorizate.

58
Following the assessment performed, the Competition Council established that the scheme had a State aid

6
nature and that it was compatible with the Regulation on State aid to the cinema and TV production.

The total sum estimated to be granted under the notified scheme amounted to 74,500,000 lei.

e) Total amount of State aid authorised in 2006

The total State aid authorised in 2006 amounted to 7,387,006,042 lei (EUR 2,095,901,84214), out of which
63.6% consisted in State aid granted for carrying out services of general economic interest (Table no. 10,
Graph no. 6).

2,5% 5,4%
1,0%

27,6%
63,6%

Services of general economic interest Rescue Restructuring

Culture promoting Regional development

f) State aid recovery

In 2006, the Competition Council further continued its actions aimed at recovering the State aid qualified as
incompatible with the specific legislation.

In this context, following the consistent activities of the Competition Council, unlawful and incompatible
State aid in total amount of 82,475,878.86 lei (around EUR 23.4 million) was recovered (Table no. 11,
Graph no. 7, Annex no. 2).

Out of this amount, 58.8% were voluntary reimbursement payments made by Mittal Steel Galati SA, SC
Silcotub SA Zalau, SC Artrom SA Slatina, as well as by other undertakings identified through the controls
carried out by the Competition Council in the deprived areas.

59
6

4,5%

33,9%
58,8%

2,8%

Zone defavorizate Decizii de recuperare

Decizii conditionate Rambursari voluntare

g) Controlul i monitorizarea ajutoarelor de stat

n cursul anului 2006, activitatea de control i monitorizare a ajutoarelor de stat s-a intensificat, fiind efectuate
un numr de 6.289 aciuni de control, din care cca.52,1% n zone defavorizate (Graficul nr.8).

43,1% 52,1%

3,4%
1,5%

Zone defavorizate Zone libere Parcuri industriale

Alte controale la beneficiari si furnizori de ajutor de stat

n privina activitii de monitorizare, un accent deosebit a fost pus pe supravegherea modului de respectare a
intensitii maxime admise n cazul ajutoarelor de stat acordate.

Pe baza controalelor efectuate prin inspectoratele de concuren teritoriale, n anul 2006, au fost finalizate i
transmise Comisiei Europene urmtoarele rapoarte de monitorizare:
= Raportul ajutoarelor de stat acordate n Romnia n perioada 2002-2004;
= Raportul privind monitorizarea ajutoarelor de stat acordate n baza Legii nr. 332/2001 privind
promovarea investiiilor directe cu impact semnificativ n economie;

60
 6
4,5%

33,9%
58,8%

2,8%

Aid recovered from the deprived areas Recovery Decisions

Conditional Decisions Voluntary reimbursements

g) State aid control and monitoring

In 2006, the State aid control and monitoring activities were intensified. Thus, 6289 control actions were
carried out, out of which nearly 52.1% covered the deprived areas (Graph no.8).

43,1% 52,1%

3,4%
1,5%

Deprived area Free zones Industrial parks

Other controls at the beneficiaries and grantors of state aid

As concerns the monitoring activity, a special emphasis was put on the screening of the observance of the
maximum admissible intensity for the State aid measures granted.
Based on the controls carried out by the territorial inspectorates in 2006, the following monitoring reports were
finalised and sent to the European Commission:
= Report on the State aid granted in Romania during 2002-2004;
= Report on monitoring the State aid granted on the basis of Law no.332/2001 on the promotion of direct
investment with significant impact in the economy;

61
 Raportul privind ajutoarele de stat acordate parcurilor industriale;
=
6

Raportul privind ajutoarele de stat acordate antierelor navale n perioada 2004-2005;

=
Raportul privind monitorizarea ajutoarelor de stat acordate sectorului autovehiculelor ;
=
2 Rapoarte
= privind rezultatele aciunii de monitorizare a ajutoarelor de stat regionale acordate
agenilor economici cu certificat de investitor n zonele defavorizate;
2 Rapoarte privind monitorizarea ajutoarelor de stat acordate agenilor economici din zonele libere.
=

Totodat, pe baza analizei raportrilor primite de la furnizorii de ajutor de stat au fost ntocmite 2 rapoarte de
monitorizare pe baza analizei raportrilor primite de la furnizorii de ajutor de stat, privind stadiul de
implementare a planurilor de restructurare pentru agenii economici pentru care Consiliul Concurenei a emis
decizii de autorizare a ajutoarelor de stat pentru restructurarea firmelor n dificultate. A fost analizat modul de
implementare a planurilor de restructurare care au stat la baza autorizrii ajutoarelor de stat i s-a constatat c
la data raportrii, societile au implementat msurile stabilite prin planurile respective.

Pe baza raportrilor transmise de ctre furnizorii de ajutor de stat a fost ntocmit Inventarul ajutoarelor de stat
acordate n perioada 2003 2005 i a fost redactat Raportul ajutoarelor de stat acordate n Romania n
perioada 2003 2005.

Raportul ajutoarelor de stat acordate n Romnia n perioada 2002-2004

g
15

Raportul ajutoarelor de stat acordate n Romnia n perioada 2002-2004 permite realizarea unei imagini de
ansamblu asupra nivelului, structurii i tendinelor nregistrate n acordarea de ajutoare de stat n Romnia.
Documentul a fost elaborat pe baza datelor cuprinse n raportrile ntocmite de ctre furnizorii de ajutor de
stat, care pot fi instituii publice centrale sau locale.

Raportul ajutoarelor de stat reprezint un instrument statistic, destinat asigurrii transparenei n materie de
ajutor de stat i informrii tuturor prilor interesate asupra modalitilor de utilizare a fondurilor publice
acordate sub forma ajutoarelor de stat.

Raportul ajutoarelor de stat acordate n Romnia n perioada 2003-2005

g

n cursul lunii decembrie 2006, a fost elaborat Raportul ajutoarelor de stat acordate n Romnia n perioada
2003-2005, urmnd s fie naintat Guvernului Romniei i publicat n Monitorul Oficial, partea I.

Trebuie amintit faptul c, n urma angajamentelor asumate de ctre Romnia prin Tratatul de aderare la
Uniunea European, 2004 a fost ultimul an n care s-au mai putut acorda ajutoare de stat n sectorul
siderurgic.

Analiza evoluiei ajutoarelor de stat acordate n Romnia n perioada 2003-2005 a fost realizat prin prisma
obiectivelor avute n vedere la autorizarea ajutoarelor i a instrumentelor utilizate pentru acordarea acestora.

Lund n considerare repartiia ajutorului de stat pe obiective, se observ c Romnia se aliniaz tendinei
generale observate la nivelul Uniunii Europene, de orientare a ajutorului de stat ctre obiective
orizontale (cercetare - dezvoltare, protecia mediului, IMM-uri) i reducerea ajutorului de stat acordat
sectoarelor sensibile din punct de vedere concurenial (siderurgie, construcii navale, auto), aa cum se arat n
ultimul Scoreboard16 elaborat de Comisia European i dat publicitii n data de 11 decembrie 2006.

n ceea ce privete instrumentele prin care au fost acordate ajutoare de stat, se constat c 2005 este primul an
n care ajutoarele de stat de natura cheltuielilor bugetare depesc ajutoarele de stat de natura
renunrilor la venituri, urmnd tendina general la nivelul Uniunii Europene de eliminare a ajutorului de
stat sub forma facilitilor fiscale i nlocuirea acestora cu modaliti de acordare mai eficiente i mai
transparente, n principal prin subvenii.

62
 Report on the State aid granted to industrial parks;
=

6
Report on the State aid granted to shipyards during 2004-2005;
=
Report on monitoring the State aid granted to the motor vehicle sector;
=
2 Reports on monitoring the regional State
= aid granted to undertakings having investor certificate in the
deprived areas;
2 Reports on monitoring the State aid granted to undertakings operating in the free zones.
=

At the same time, based on the analysis of the information received from the State aid grantors, 2 monitoring
reports were elaborated regarding the implementation of the restructuring plans by the undertakings for which
the Competition Council had approved the granting of State aid for restructuring firms in difficulty. The
Competition Council examined in detail the implementation of the restructuring plans on the basis of which
State aid had been authorised. The authority observed that, on the reporting date, the involved companies had
implemented the measures established through these plans.

Based on the information sent by the State aid grantors, the Competition Council has elaborated the
Inventory of the State aid granted during 2003-2005 and drafted the Report on the State aid granted in
Romania during 2003-2005.

Report on the State aid granted in Romania during 2002-2004

g
15

This Report created an overall image on the level, structure and trends in the granting of State aid in Romania.
The document was elaborated based on the data included in the information documents prepared by the State
aid grantors, namely the central or local public institutions.

The State aid Report represents a statistic tool, elaborated with the aim to ensure the transparency in this
domain and to allow all interested parties to be informed about the methods of using public resources granted
as State aid.

Report on the State aid granted in Romania during 2003-2005

g

In December 2006 the Report on the State aid granted in Romania during 2003-2005 was elaborated,
submitted to the Romanian Government and published in the Official Journal, Part I.

Note should be made that in line with the commitments undertaken under the Accession Treaty, 2004 was the
last year when Romania was able to grant restructuring State aid to the steel industry.

The analysis of the State aids granted in Romania during 2003-2005 was carried out based on the objectives of
the aids and on the instruments of granting.

Taking into consideration the sharing based on the State aid's objectives, Romania is aligning to the EU
general trends of targeting State aids towards horizontal objectives (research & development, environment
protection, SMEs) and of reducing the State aids granted to the competitive sensitive sectors (steel industry,
shipbuilding, motor vehicles), according to the State aid Scoreboard16 drafted by the European Commission
and published on 11 December 2006.

As regards the State aid granting instruments, 2005 is the first year when the State aids of a budgetary
expense nature exceed the State aids granted by renouncing at certain revenues. This practice follows the
general trend of the European Union of eliminating State aids in the form of fiscal facilities by replacing them,
in particular the subsidies, with more efficient and transparent granting instruments,

63
 Parcuri industriale
g
6

n luna ianuarie 2006, Consiliul Concurenei a desfurat o aciune de monitorizare a ajutoarelor de stat
acordate agenilor economici care desfoar activiti n cadrul parcurilor industriale. Consiliul Concurenei
a autorizat, pn n prezent, alocri specifice unui numr de 26 de parcuri, din care 25 parcuri industriale i
un parc de soft.

Din cele 25 de parcuri industriale sunt funcionale doar 12, restul fiind nc n stadiul de amenajare i
construire a infrastructurii. Cu toate acestea, din cele 13 parcuri nefuncionale, 4 au beneficiat de ajutor de
stat, respectiv: Parcul industrial Jibou, Parcul industrial Mure, Parcul industrial Hunedoara i Parcul industrial
Sibiu ura Mic.

n urma aciunii de monitorizare a ajutoarelor de stat acordate agenilor economici din cadrul parcurilor
industriale s-a constatat c doar 16 parcuri au beneficiat de ajutor de stat, n valoare total de 19.793.991
lei. (Tabelul nr.12).

Sintetic, activitatea de monitorizare a surprins i urmtoarele aspecte:

= Valoarea total a investiiilor realizate este de 62 809 303 lei, din care 45% au fost reprezentate de
investiiile n cldiri (Tabelul nr.13);

Intensitatea ajutorului de stat se situeaz sub nivelul de 50% prevzut n deciziile de autorizare;
=
Activitile
= desfurate n cadrul parcurilor industriale vizeaz urmtoarele domenii: transport,
comer cu ridicata i cu amnuntul, lucrri de instalaii i construcii, ntreinerea i repararea
autovehiculelor, prelucrarea i conservarea legumelor, publicitate, fabricarea construciilor metalice,
prelucrarea i fasonarea sticlei, prelucrarea lemnului, editur i tipografie, confecii, tricotaje,
nclminte, fabricarea articolelor din material plastic, fabricarea lacurilor i vopselelor, lucrri de
soft etc.

64
Industrial parks
g

6
During January 2006, the Competition Council carried out a monitoring action concerning the State aids
granted to the undertakings operating within industrial parks. The Competition Council had authorized until
January 2006 specific allocations for 26 parks, (25 industrial parks and 1 soft park).

Of the 25 industrial parks, only 12 were functional; respectively 48% of the total number the rest were still
being in the stage of setting up and infrastructure building. However, of the 13 non-functional parks, 4
beneficiated from State aid, respectively: the Industrial Park Jibou, the Industrial Park Mure, the Industrial
Park Hunedoara and the Industrial Park Sibiu ura Mic.
Following the monitoring action concerning the State aids granted to the undertakings operating within
industrial parks, it was concluded that only 16 industrial parks benefited from State aids in total amount of
19,793,991 lei. (Table no.12).

Synthetically, the monitoring action reached the following conclusions:

Total value
= of the investments was of 62,809,303 lei, of which 45% were investments in buildings (Table
no.13);

The State aid intensity was bellow the 50% threshold provided for in the authorisation decisions;
=
The undertakings
= from the industrial parks were carrying out the following activities: transport, wholesale
trade, retail trade, wire plant works, sanitary-engineering installation, civil engineering, service and
maintenance of the auto cars, preserving and manufacturing of the vegetables, advertising, metal structures
manufacturing, shaping and manufacturing of the glass, wood manufacturing, publishing company and
printing house, wearing clothes manufacturing, hosiery, footwear, plastics articles manufacturing, colours
and varnishes manufacturing, IT-works etc.

65
 antiere navale
g
6

Reglementrile comunitare n domeniul construciilor de nave au fost transpuse n Regulamentul privind

ajutoarele de stat acordate n industria construciilor de nave, adoptat de Consiliul Concurenei n anul 2004.

n perioada februarie martie 2006, Consiliul Concurenei a monitorizat ajutoarele de stat acordate n sectorul
antierelor navale din Romnia, n perioada 2004-2005, fiind verificate un numr de 25 de societi
comerciale din judeele Brila, Clrai, Constana, Galai, Giurgiu, Mehedini i Tulcea, a cror activitate se
ncadreaz n prevederile Regulamentului mai sus menionat. n urma aciunii de monitorizare s-a constatat
c n perioada analizat au beneficiat de ajutor de stat un numr de 11 societi comerciale (44%).

Obiectul principal de activitate al societilor monitorizate l reprezint construcia i reparaia de nave

maritime i fluviale, activitatea de reparaii de nave nscriindu-se n perioada 2003-2005 pe un trend
descendent (ca procent n activitile desfurate), respectiv de la 15,3% (2003) la 13,4% (2005).

Principalele faciliti de care au beneficiat antierele navale n perioada 2004-2005 s-au concretizat n:
= conversia n aciuni a datoriilor ctre bugetul de stat, a crei pondere n valoarea total a
ajutoarelor acordate antierelor navale s-a majorat cu 28,2 puncte procentuale (respectiv de la 32,9%
n anul 2004 la 61,1% n anul 2005);
= anulri de majorri i penaliti aferente obligaiilor bugetare restante care i-au diminuat
ponderea n totalul ajutoarelor acordate antierelor navale cu 20,9 puncte procentuale (respectiv de
la 27,1% n anul 2004, la 6,2% n anul 2005) ;
= bonificaii de dobnd (faciliti anulate);
= ealonri la plata obligaiilor bugetare restante, a cror pondere s-a diminuat de la 5,9% n anul 2004
la 3,9% n anul 2005;
= scutiri de la plata dobnzilor i penalitilor de ntrziere aferente obligaiilor bugetare neachitate n
termenul legal la bugetul de stat;
= subvenionarea locurilor de munc vacante pentru ncadrarea n munc pe durat
nedeterminat a persoanelor cu handicap;
= reducerea la plata impozitului pe profit, msur valabil pn la data de 31 decembrie 2004.

Cuantumul total al ajutoarelor de stat acordate n perioada analizat a fost de 86.033.408 lei, cel mai
mare procent fiind destinat antierului Naval Constana SA, n contextul procesului de privatizare.

Valoarea total a investiiilor efectuate n domeniu se ridic la 147.031.821 lei, cele mai mari investiii fiind
realizate de S.C. DAEWO Mangalia HEAVY INDUSTRIES S.A., S.C. ANTIERUL NAVAL S.A. Constana, S.C.
AKER S.A. Tulcea, S.C. ANTIERUL NAVAL DAMEN S.A. Galai i S.C. AKER S.A. Brila.

O situaie aparte se regsete n cazul S.C. ANTIERUL NAVOL S.A. Oltenia, pentru care a fost autorizat un
ajutor de stat pentru restructurare n sum de 8.809.121 lei, care ns nu a fost acordat ntruct nu au fost
respectate condiiilor impuse de furnizor.

ajutoare de stat pentru salvare restructurare acordate firmelor n dificultate

g

n baza Regulamentului privind ajutorul de stat pentru salvarea i restructurarea ntreprinderilor n dificultate,
Consiliul Concurenei are posibilitatea de a ntreprinde aciunile necesare pentru verificarea modului de
implementare i realizare a planului de restructurare a societilor comerciale, beneficiare de ajutor de stat.
Aceast verificare se face prin intermediul raportrilor periodice transmise de furnizorii de ajutor.

Urmare analizrii stadiului de implementare a programelor de restructurare de ctre un numr de 13 ageni

economici, s-a concluzionat c:
a) valoarea total a ajutoarelor de stat pentru salvare restructurare de care au beneficiat cele 13
societi comerciale este de 27.941,625 mld. lei, constnd n: scutiri la plat a majorrilor de
ntrziere i a penalitilor pentru rate de capital, dobnzi, scutiri la plata unor obligaii bugetare
restante i a unor creane proprii AVAS, scutirea la plat a majorrilor i penalitilor de ntrziere
aferente contribuiilor datorate bugetului statului, bugetelor locale i fondurilor speciale, ealonri la
plata obligaiilor restante la bugetul de stat, bugetul asigurrilor sociale de stat i la fondurile speciale,
conversia unor datorii ctre buget, AVAS i furnizorii de utiliti i servicii, garantarea de ctre stat a
unor credite contractate de agenii economici;

66
Shipyards
g

6
The Community rules for the shipbuilding sector were transposed by Regulation on the State aid granted to the
shipbuilding industry, adopted by the Competition Council in 2004.

During February March 2006, the Competition Council monitored the State aids granted to Romania's
shipyards sector during 2004 2005. 25 undertakings from the counties Brila, Clrai, Constana, Galai,
Giurgiu, Mehedini and Tulcea, whose object of activity fall within the scope of the above-mentioned
regulation's provisions, were verified. As a result of the monitoring action, it was concluded that, in the
analyzed period, 11 undertakings (44%) beneficiated from State aids.

The main object of activity of the monitored undertakings was building and repairing maritime and fluvial
ships; ships repairing followed a descendent trend during 2003-2005 (considering its share in the total activity),
respectively from 15.5% (2003) to 13.4% (2005).

During 2004 2005 the shipyards mostly benefited from the following facilities:
= conversion into shares of the debts towards the State budget; their weight in the total value of the aids
granted to the shipyards increased by 28.2 percentage points (respectively, from 32.9 % in 2004 to
61.1% during 2005);
= exemptions from the payment of the penalties and the supplementary charges for payment delay
afferent to the due budgetary debts; their weight in the total value of the State aids granted to shipyards
diminished by 20.9 percentage points (respectively, from 27.1% in 2004 to 6.2% in 2005);
= interest allowances (annulled facilities);
= deferrals of the due budgetary debts; their weight decreased from 5.9% in 2004 to 3.9% in 2005);
= exemptions from the payment of the interests and delay penalties afferent to the budgetary debts that
were not paid within the legal deadline to the State budget;
= subsidizing the vacant jobs so that the persons with disabilities can be employed for an unlimited
period;
= reduction from the profit tax payment, measure in force until December 31 2004.

The total amount of the State aids granted during the analyzed period is of 86,033,408 lei. The State aid
granted to S.C. antierul Naval Constanta S.A., as a result of the privatizing process, had the highest share of the
State aids granted during this period.

The total value of the investments reached 147,031,821 lei; the highest investments were made by S.C.
DAEWO Mangalia HEAVY INDUSTRIES S.A., S.C. ANTIERUL NAVAL S.A. Constana, S.C. AKER S.A.
Tulcea, S.C. ANTIERUL NAVAL DAMEN S.A. Galai and S.C. AKER S.A. Brila.

A special case was the one of S.C. ANTIERUL NAVOL S.A. Oltenia, for which a restructuring aid of
8,809,121lei was authorized. However, the State aid was not granted because the conditions imposed by the
grantor were not fulfilled.

Rescue and restructuring State aids granted to the firms in difficulty

g

According to the Regulation on the State aids for rescuing and restructuring the firms in difficulty, the
Competition Council has the possibility to take the necessary measures in order to verify that the restructuring
plans of the undertakings are properly implemented. This is done through periodical reports transmitted by the
State aid grantors.

Following the analysis concerning the implementation by 13 undertakings of their restructuring programmes, it
was concluded that:
a) The total value of the rescuing and restructuring State aids the 13 undertakings beneficiated from was
of 27,941.625 billion lei. They consisted in: exemptions from paying the penalties and supplementary
charges for payments delay afferent to capital rates, interests, exemption from paying certain due
budgetary obligations and certain AVAS recovery debts, exemption from paying the penalties and
supplementary charges for payments delay afferent to the contributions due to the State budget, to the
local budgets and to the special funds, deferrals of payment for the obligations due to the State budget, to
the social insurances budget and to the special funds, conversion into shares of some debts to the State
budget, to AVAS and to the utilities and services suppliers, reduction of the tariff per square meter for
leasing some lands, state guarantees for some loans contracted by the undertakings;

67
 b) prevederile legale care au stat la baza acordrii de ajutoare pentru restructurare au fost
6

urmtoarele:

c) analiza modului de implementare a planurilor de restructurare s-a realizat lundu-se n

considerare elementele cuprinse n deciziile de autorizare, urmrindu-se stadiul de ndeplinire
a msurilor propuse (Anexa nr.3), respectiv cele care vizeaz:
= capacitile de producie;
= fora de munc;
= promovarea activitii;
= msuri de natur tehnologic;
= protecia mediului;
= restructurare financiar.

d) analiza economico-financiar relev c, din cele 13 societi, 9 au nregistrat profit n urma

implementrii planurilor de restructurare;
e) volumul datoriilor ctre bugetul de stat i bugetele locale s-a diminuat, ceea ce a permis
societilor comerciale s i mbunteasc imaginea, devenind credibile pe piaa financiar.

n cursul lunii august 2006, a fost elaborat un al doilea raport de monitorizare, care cuprinde date i informaii
referitoare la stadiul de implementare a programelor de restructurare pentru un numr de 20 ageni
economici. Din analiza efectuat se desprinde concluzia c societile au implementat msurile prevzute
n planurile de restructurare. n ceea ce priveste societile care au finalizat implementarea programelor de
restructurare s-a constatat ca ajutorul de stat pentru salvare-restructurare a avut o influen benefic asupra
acestora contribuind la mbuntirea indicatorilor economico-financiari i de eficien, unitile devenind
viabile.

ajutoare de stat acordate sectorului de autovehicule

g

n cursul anului 2006, Consiliul Concurenei a monitorizat ajutoarele de stat acordate sectorului de
autovehicule, fiind verificai un numr de 14 ageni economici.

Dintre agenii economici verificai, doar 4 au intrat sub incidena prevederilor regulamentului multisectorial
privind ajutorul de stat regional pentru proiecte mari de investiii, respectiv: SC AUTOMOBILE DACIA
PITETI, SC DAEWOO AUTOMOBILE ROMANIA SA CRAIOVA, SC ASTRA BUS SRL ARAD I SC MEFIN SA
SINAIA.

Este de precizat c nici una din societile analizate nu i desfoar activitatea n zone defavorizate sau zone
libere. Din cei 4 ageni economici, doar SC AUTOMOBILE DACIA PITETI a beneficiat de ajutor de stat
pentru proiecte mari de investiii n sectorul auto, valoarea total a ajutorului de stat autorizat ridicndu-se
la 279 124 036,6 lei.

Msurile de ajutor acordate societii s-au concretizat n scutirea la plata impozitului pe profit pn la data de
31.12.2006, scutirea de la plata taxelor vamale i a TVA-ului pentru achiziiile destinate realizrii de investiii.
Intensitatea rezultat a ajutorului de stat, calculat ca raport procentual ntre valoarea ajutorului de stat i
valoarea investiiilor eligibile, este de 10,52%, situat sub nivelul maxim admisibil de 15%.

ajutoare de stat acordate agenilor economici din zone libere

g

Consiliul Concurenei a desfurat o aciune de monitorizare a ajutoarelor de stat acordate agenilor

economici din cele 5 zone libere operaionale (Brila, Constana, Curtici-Arad, Galai i Giurgiu).

68
 b) The rescue and restructuring State aids were granted based on the following legal provisions:

6
c) The implementation assessment in respect to the restructuring plans was carried out by taking into
account the elements contained in the authorization decisions and by considering the fulfilment of
the measures provided for in these plans. (Annex no.3)They concerned:
= the production capacities;
= the labour force;
= the activity promoting;
= the technological measures;
= the environment protection;
= the financial restructuring.

d) The economic financial analysis undertaken proves that, as a result of implementing the
restructuring plans, 9 of the 13 undertakings registered profits;
e) The debts to the State and local budgets decreased; this gave the analyzed undertakings the
possibility to become credible on the financial market.

During August 2006, a second monitoring report was elaborated, comprising data and information regarding
the implementation of the restructuring programmes in the case of 20 undertakings. As a result of the
analysis, it was concluded that the undertakings had implemented the measures provided for in the
restructuring plans. In respect to the undertakings which had finalized the implementation of the
restructuring programmes, it was come to the conclusion that the rescue and restructuring aid influenced them
positively by contributing to the improvement of their economic, financial and efficiency indicators; as a
consequence, the undertakings became viable.

State aids granted to the motor vehicles sector

g

During 2006, the Competition Council monitored the State aids granted to the motor vehicles sector; 14
undertaking were verified.

Of these 14 undertakings, only 4 fell under the provisions of the Multisectoral Regulations on regional State aid
for large investment projects, respectively: SC AUTOMOBILE DACIA PITETI, SC DAEWOO AUTOMOBILE
ROMANIA SA CRAIOVA, SC ASTRA BUS SRL ARAD AND SC MEFIN SA SINAIA.

It must be noted that none of the verified undertakings were developing their activities in deprived areas or in
free zones. From the 4 undertakings, only SC AUTOMOBILE DACIA PITETI benefited from a State aid for
large investment projects in the motor vehicles sector, the total value of the authorized aid was of
279,124,036.6 lei.

The State aid measures granted to this undertaking consisted in an exemption from the payment of the profit
tax until 31.12.2006, an exemption from customs duties and from VAT for the acquisitions made in order to
make the investment. The resulted intensity, calculated as percentage of the value of the State aid from the
value of the eligible investments, is 10.52%, thus below the maximum admitted level of 15%.

State aids granted to the undertakings from free zones

g

The Competition Council carried out a monitoring action of the State aids granted to undertakings operating
within 5 operational free zones (Brila, Constana, Curtici-Arad, Galai and Giurgiu).

69
 Aciunea de monitorizare a urmrit, n principal:
6

= valoarea investiiei realizate pn la data de 1 noiembrie 2004 i meninerea acesteia pe o perioad

de cel puin 5 ani;
= valoarea ajutorului de stat de care au beneficiat agenii economici, sub forma scutirii sau reducerii
impozitului pe profit precum i a diminurii redevenei, ncepnd cu 2 ianuarie 2003 i pn la data
controlului;
= situaia economico-financiar a agenilor economici verificai;
= intensitatea ajutorului de stat.

Din totalul celor 33 de ageni economici verificai, un numr de 26 desfoar activiti productive sau
comerciale - n cadrul zonei, ceilali 7 avnd ca obiect de activitate nchirierea spaiilor deinute n zonele
libere. Aspectele relevate n urma aciunii de monitorizare sunt prezentate n tabelul de mai jos (Tabelul
nr.14).

Un al doilea raport de monitorizare a ajutoarelor de stat acordate agenilor economici din zonele libere a fost
finalizat n luna octombrie 2006.

Iniial, Ministerul Finanelor Publice a declarat un numr de 33 ageni economici ca fiind eligibili de a primi
ajutor de stat sub forma diminurii redevenei. Dintre acetia, 5 ageni economici au renunat la ajutoarele de
stat, un agent economic a atins nivelul maxim admis al intensitii i, ca urmare, nu mai beneficiaz de ajutor
de stat, iar n cazul SC Romned Company SRL, care a depit limita maxim admis, Ministerul Finanelor
Publice a recuperat ajutorul de stat ilegal mpreun cu dobnda aferent (conform Deciziei Consiliului
Concurenei nr.82 /04.04.2006).

Prin urmare, controlul a vizat un numr de 26 operatori economici. Dintre acetia, 17 au beneficiat de ajutor
de stat n perioada 2003-2004 sub forma reducerii impozitului pe profit n cuantum de 716.882,8 USD i
3.548 EUR, fr a depi nivelul maxim admis al intensitii ajutorului de stat.

De asemenea, ncepnd cu luna martie 2005, agenii economici au beneficiat de ajutoare de stat sub forma
diminurii redevenei, n cuantum de 1.282.936,3 USD i 100.466 EUR.

Valoarea total a investiiilor realizate pn la data de 1 noiembrie 2004 a fost de de circa 15 milioane USD, i
const n cldiri, platforme, utilaje i echipamente.

ajutoare de stat acordate n baza Legii nr. 332/2001 privind promovarea investiiilor directe cu impact
g
semnificativ n economie, cu modificrile i completrile ulterioare

n baza legii mai sus-amintit, a fost instituit o schem de ajutor de stat, prin care se acord o serie de faciliti
persoanelor juridice de drept privat, ce ndeplinesc cumulativ urmtoarele condiii:
= realizeaz investiii noi cu o valoare mai mare de 1.000.000 USD;
= investiiile realizate trebuie s conduc la dezvoltarea i modernizarea infrastructurii economice a
Romniei i, totodat, s determine un efect pozitiv de antrenare n economie i s creeze noi locuri
de munc;
= participarea la investiiile directe cu impact semnificativ n economie s se realizeze numai cu capital
lichid n lei sau n valut liber convertibil;
= investiiile trebuie s se realizeze ntr-un termen de maxim 30 de luni de la data nregistrrii societii.

n urma modificrilor succesive ale Legii nr. 332/2001, au rmas n vigoare urmtoarele faciliti:
= deducerea unei cote suplimentare de 20% din valoarea investiiilor realizate pn la data de 31
decembrie 2006 (art.38 alin. 13 din Codul fiscal);

70
The monitoring action concerned mainly:

6
= the value of the investments made until 1 November 2004 and their maintenance for at least 5 years;
= the value of the State aid the undertakings benefited from, as exemption/reduction of the profit tax and
as well as royalty reduction, beginning with 2 January 2003 and the date of the control;
= the economical and financial situation of the verified undertakings;
= the State aid intensity.

Of the total 33 verified undertakings, 26 were carrying out productive or commercial activities within the free
zone. The others 7 had as object of activity the renting of the spaces held within the free zones. The relevant
aspects following the monitoring action are presented in the table below (Table no.14).

A second monitoring report of the State aids granted to the undertakings operating within free zones was
finalized in October 2006.

Initially, the Ministry of Public Finance had declared 33 economic operators as eligible to receive State aid in
the form of royalty reduction. From these, 5 economic operators have renounced at these State aids, 1
economic operator has reached the maximum level of intensity and, consequently, does not benefit from
State aid and, in case of SC Romned Company SRL, which exceeded the maximum admissible limit, the
Ministry of Public Finance recovered the illegal State aid and the afferent interest (in conformity with the
Competition Council's Decision no.82/04.04.2006).

Consequently, the control focused on 26 economic operators. Out of these, in 2003-2004, 17 benefited from
State aid in the form of reduction of the profit tax in an amount of 716,882.8 USD and 3,548 EUR without
exceeding the maxim admissible level of the State aid intensity.

At the same time, starting with March 2005, the economic operators benefited from State aids in the form of
royalty reduction in an amount of 1,282,936.3 USD and 100,466 EUR.

The total value of the investments made before 1 November 2004 was of approximately 15 million USD,
consisting in buildings, platforms, tools and equipments.

g State aids granted on the basis of Law no.332/2001 on promoting the direct investments with a
significant impact in the economy

A State aid scheme was established by this law, which granted a series of facilities to private legal persons that
fulfil cumulatively the following conditions:
= they realize new investments with a total value higher than 1 million USD;
= the investments made must contribute to the developing and modernizing of Romania's economical
infrastructure, generate a positive effect in the economy and create new jobs;
= their participation to the direct investments with a significant impact in the economy must be realized
only in cash, in lei or in a free convertible currency;
= the investments must be made within a period of maximum 30 months from the company's registration.

Following the successive amendments of Law no 332/2001, only the following facilities remained in force:
= deduction of a supplementary quota of 20% from the value of the investments made before 31 December
2006 (art. 38 par. 13 of the Fiscal Code);

71
 scutirea
= de la plata impozitului pe teren sau reducerea acestuia pentru terenul aferent investiiilor, pe
6

toat perioada executrii acestora, pn la punerea n funciune, dar nu mai mult de 3 ani de la data
nceperii lucrrilor (art.286 alin. 6 din Codul fiscal);
scutirea de la plata taxelor vamale pentru utilajele tehnologice, instalaiile, echipamentele, aparatele
=
de msur i control, automatizrile i produsele de software achiziionate din import, necesare
pentru realizarea investiiei.

Din verificrile efectuate la un numr de 220 de ageni economici, au rezultat urmtoarele (Tabelul nr. 15):

ajutoare de stat acordate agenilor economici cu certificat de investitor n zonele defavorizate

g

n perioada martie iunie 2006, Consiliul Concurenei a desfurat o aciune de monitorizare a ajutoarelor
de stat acordate agenilor economici cu certificat de investitor n zonele defavorizate. Au fost verificai
1497 de ageni economici cu certificat de investitor dintr-un numr de 28 de zone defavorizate, grupate n
funcie de durata acestora de existen.
n urma aciunii de monitorizare au fost constatate urmtoarele aspecte (Tabelul nr.16):

Un numr de 120 de ageni economici nu vor mai putea beneficia de ajutor de stat, din urmtoarele motive:
= retragerea certificatului de investitor (30 de ageni economici);
= 11 ageni economici nu mai desfoar activitate n zonele defavorizate;
= desfurarea de activiti n sectorul agricol, ncadrndu-se n Anexa nr.1 a Regulamentului privind
ajutorul de stat regional (4 ageni economici);
= intrarea n procedura de lichidare judiciar sau faliment (15 ageni economici);
= ncetarea activitii n zona defavorizat pentru un numr de 3 ageni economici, acetia fiind radiai
de la Registrul Comerului;
= 6 ageni economici nu au solicitat ajutor de stat i nu au realizat investiii pn la 15 septembrie 2004,
fiind neeligibili pentru acordarea de ajutor de stat;
= 45 de ageni economici au atins limita maxim admis a intensitii ajutorului de stat;
= 6 ageni economici au depit nivelul maxim admis al intensitii ajutorului de stat.

Aciunile repetate de control al agenilor economici beneficiari de ajutor de stat au avut ca efect diminuarea
numrului de ageni economici care au depit nivelul maxim admis al intensitii cu 83,3% n anul 2006

72
 exemption
= from the land tax payment or its reduction for the land corresponding to the investments,

6
over the entire period the investements are made, until they are started up, but not more than 3 years
from the date when the works began (art. 286 par. 6 of the Fiscal Code);
exemption from the custom duties payment for the technological equipments, installations,
=
equipments, measure and control devices, automations and software products imported, which are
necessary for making the investment.

From the controls performed with regards to 220 economic operators, the following resulted: (Table no.15):

State aids granted to economic operators with investor certificate in the deprived areas.
g

During March-June 2006 the Competition Council has carried out an action of monitoring of the state aids
granted to economic operators with investor certificate in the deprived areas. The action included 1497
economic operators with investor certificate from 28 deprived areas, grouped according to their lifetime.

After the monitoring action, the following aspects were found:

A number of 120 economic operators will no longer benefit from State aids because of the following reasons:
= the withdrawal of the investor certificate (30 economic operators);
= 11 economic operators are no longer developing activities in deprived areas;
= development of activities in the agricultural sector falling within the scope of Annex no. 1 of the
Regulation on regional state aid (4 economic operators);
= initiation of the procedure of judicial liquidation and insolvency (15 economic operators);
= cessation of activities in the deprived area in case of 3 economic operators, removed from the Trade
Register;
= 6 economic operators did not apply to receive State aid and they did not make investments before 15
September 2004; consequently, they are not eligible to receive State aids;
= 45 economic operators reached the maximum admissible level of intensity of State aid and they will no
longer benefit from State aid;
= 6 economic operators exceeded the maximum admissible level intensity of State aid.

The repeated actions aimed to control the economic operators, beneficiaries of State aid, resulted in a
reduction, by 83,3% of the number of economic operators exceeding the maximum admissible level in 2006

73
 comparativ cu anul precedent (respectiv de la 32 de ageni n primvara anului 2005 la doar 6 ageni n
6

primvara anului 2006).

Totodat, a fost intensificat aciunea de stopare a acordrii de faciliti fiscale agenilor economici care
au atins intensitatea maxim admis a ajutorului de stat. Astfel, dac n primvara anului 2005, numrul
agenilor economici crora le-a fost stopat acordarea de ajutoare s-a ridicat la 31, n aceeai perioad a anului
2006, numrul acestora a ajuns la 45 de ageni economici.

n urma aciunii de monitorizare, s-a constatat c valoarea ajutorului de stat de care ar mai putea s beneficieze
agenii economici, pn la atingerea nivelului maxim admis al intensitii, este de cca.871.400 mii lei.

Un al doilea raport a fost finalizat n luna noiembrie i vizeaz aciunea de control desfurat n perioada
august - octombrie 2006, n cadrul creia au fost evaluate ajutoarele de stat primite de agenii economici
ncepnd cu data de 2 ianuarie 2003, precum i costurile eligibile aferente invesiilor realizate pn la
data de 15 septembrie 2004. Numrul total al agenilor economici verificai, care au certificat permanent
de investitor n zonele defavorizate, a fost de 1.393.

Valoarea total a investiiilor realizate pn la 15 septembrie 2004 n zonele defavorizate pentru achiziii
de terenuri, construcii de cldiri, hale industriale, echipamente i utilaje, precum i pentru maini necesare
desfurrii activitii n zon, a fost de 1.804 mil lei. Valoarea ajutorului de stat sub forma scutirii
impozitului pe profit, de care au beneficiat agenii economici n perioada 2003-semestrul I 2006, a fost de
208,8 mil lei, iar a ajutorului sub forma fondurilor nerambursabile a nsumat 4,4 mil lei.

Ajutoarele pentru crearea de locuri de munc s-au ridicat la 1,9 mil lei i, mpreun cu ajutoarele pentru
investiii, au avut ca efect crearea unui numr de circa 51.500 locuri de munc.

Din numrul total de 1.393 agenti economici verificai, vor putea beneficia n continuare de ajutor de stat
1.318. Urmare controlului efectuat, a rezultat c valoarea ajutoarelor de stat ce se mai poate acorda
agenilor economici cu certificat de investitor n cele 28 de zone defavorizate care continu i dup 2007,
este de circa 795 mil. lei (aproximativ 225 mil. Euro, avnd n vedere cursul mediu pe semestrul I al anului
2006).

Ca efect al controalelor repetate ale Consiliului Concurenei i datorit ntiinrii agenilor economici asupra
sumelor de care mai pot beneficia, n aceast aciune de monitorizare nu s-a nregistrat niciun agent
economic care s fi depit nivelul maxim admis al intensitii ajutorului.

Pentru cei 35 ageni economici care au atins pragul maxim admisibil al intensitii i, ca urmare, nu mai pot
beneficia de ajutoare de stat, Consiliul Concurenei a emis Decizia nr.222/28.11.2006 privind stoparea
acordrii de ajutoare de stat.

Consiliul Concurenei a ntocmit i transmis Comisiei Europene Raportul privind transparena relaiilor
financiare dintre autoritile publice i ntreprinderile publice, precum i transparena financiar n
cadrul anumitor ntreprinderi, pentru anul 2006.

n cadrul aciunii desfurate au fost identificate 53 de ntreprinderi, din diverse domenii de activitate, care au
intrat sub incidena reglementrilor privind transparena financiar, din punct de vedere al condiiilor pe care
trebuie s le ndeplineasc, respectiv: s realizeze un anumit prag al cifrei de afaceri nete, s aib relaii
financiare cu autoritile publice, s desfoare i alte activiti dect serviciul de interes economic general /
dreptul special / dreptul exclusiv, s primeasc compensri pentru prestarea serviciului de interes economic
general, s nu fie supuse unor dispoziii speciale similare din alte acte normative.

Autoritile publice implicate i ntreprinderile care intr sub incidena reglementrilor privind transparena
financiar in evidena relaiilor financiare.

ntreprinderile care intr sub incidena reglementrilor privind transparena financiar, n calitate de
ntreprinderi care presteaz un serviciu public de interes economic general sau beneficiaz de drepturi
speciale sau exclusive, i-au stabilit o structur organizatoric i financiar care s asigure inerea
contabilitii separate pe activiti, urmnd s-i mbunteasc, n continuare, metodele de repartizare a
costurilor aferente activitilor desfurate.

74
compared with the previous year (from 32 economic operators in Spring 2005 to only 6 in Spring 2006).

6
At the same time, it was intensified the action aimed to stop the granting of fiscal facilities in case of
economic operators, which have reached the maximum admissible level of intensity. Thus, whereas in
spring 2005, the granting of State aid was stopped in case of 31 economic operators, in the same period of
2006, the number of such operators reached 45.

Following the State aid monitoring action, it was found that the value from which the economic operators
could still benefit from before reaching the maximum admissible level of intensity is of approximately 871,400
thousands lei.

A second report was finalised in November and it covered the action of control performed in August
October 2006, aimed to evaluate the State aids received by economic operators starting with 2 January
2003, as well as the eligible costs afferent to investments made before 15 September 2004. The total
number of controlled economic operators, holding a permanent certificate of investor in deprived areas, was
1,392.

The total value of investments made before 15 September 2004 in deprived areas for land purchasing,
building construction, industrial halls, equipments and tools, as well as machinery necessary for performing
activities in the area, was of 1,804 million lei. The value of State aids in the form of the exemption from profit
tax payment granted to economic operators in the period 2003 first semester 2006, was of 208.8 million lei
and in the form of grants of 4.4 million lei.

The aids for employment represented 1.9 million lei and, together with the aids for investments, led to the
creation of approximately 51.500 jobs.

From the total number of 1,393 economic operators, 1,318 will continue to benefit from State aid. Following
the control, it was found out that the value of State aids that can be granted to economic operators with an
investor certificate in the 28 deprived areas continuing after 2007 is of approximately 795 million lei
(approximately 225 million EUR, calculated taking into account the average exchange rate for the first semester
of 2006).
As an effect of the repeated controls performed by Competition Council and because of the fact that, during
this monitoring action, the economic operators were informed about the sum, they could still benefit from, no
economic operator was found to have exceeded the maximum admissible level of aid intensity.

For the 35 economic operators who had reached the maximum admissible level of intensity and,
consequently, can no longer benefit from State aids, the Competition Council issued Decision no.
222/28.11.2006 on stopping the granting of State aids.

Competition Council has drafted and submitted to the European Commission, the Report on transparency of
financial relations between the public authorities and public undertakings, as well as the financial transparency
within certain undertakings for 2006.

Following this action, 53 undertakings, from various fields of activity, were identified as falling within the scope
of provisions regarding the financial transparency from the point of view of the conditions which must be met:
they reach a certain level of net turnover, they have financial relations with public authorities, they perform
other activities besides the service of general economic interest/ special right/ exclusive right, they receive
compensations for the provision of the service of general economic interest, they do not fall within the scope of
special provisions from other normative acts.

The public authorities involved and the undertakings falling within the provisions regarding the financial
transparency keep the records of the financial relations.

Undertakings falling within the scope of provisions regarding the financial transparency, as undertaking
entrusted with provision of a public service of general economic interest or which benefits from special and
exclusive rights, have established an organisational and financial structure which ensures the keeping of
accounting records separated according to activities and they are to continue to improve the methods for
the allocation of costs on the activities performed.

75
 La solicitarea Consiliului Concurenei, o ntreprindere care activeaz n sectorul industriei prelucrtoare
6

(fabricarea produselor chimice de baz) a prezentat Raportul coninnd informaii suplimentare necesare
pentru asigurarea transparenei relaiilor financiare care au loc ntre aceasta i autoritile publice.

2.2.2. Acte emise de Consiliul Concurenei n baza

Legii nr.143/1999 privind ajutorul de stat, republicat, contestate n instan

Din cele 174 dosare n care Consiliul Concurenei a fost parte n cursul anului 2006, 30 de dosare au fost
constituite cu privire la acte emise n baza Legii privind ajutorul de stat.

n domeniul ajutorului de stat, din actele emise de autoritatea de concuren n anul 2006, au fost contestate n
instan 5 decizii i o not de constatare. Prin 4 din aceste decizii Consiliul Concurenei a dispus recuperarea
unor ajutoare de stat ilegale i incompatibile, iar printr-o alt decizie a interzis acordarea de ajutor de stat. Nota
de constatare atacat n instan viza nerespectarea dispoziiilor Regulamentului privind transparena relaiilor
financiare dintre autoritile publice i ntreprinderile publice, precum i transparena financiar n cadrul
anumitor ntreprinderi.

n aceeai perioad, n domeniul ajutorului de stat, au fost soluionate, n mod irevocabil, 8 dosare, din care 5
au vizat Decizia nr. 184/2005. Prin aceast decizie, autoritatea de concuren a constatat ilegale i
incompatibile ajutoarele de stat acordate peste limita de intensitate maxim admis unui numr de 31 de
ageni economici ce i desfurau activitatea n zonele defavorizate i a dispus, pe cale de consecin,
recuperarea acestora de ctre furnizori. 7 din cele 8 dosare soluionate irevocabil au fost favorabile Consiliului
Concurenei .

2.2.3. Alte activiti n domeniul ajutorului de stat

n domeniul ajutorului de stat, aderarea la Uniunea European a generat modificri semnificative, att n plan
legislativ, ct i instituional. Anticipnd aceste schimbri, la nivelul Consiliului Concurenei, a fost constituit,
nc de la sfritul anului 2005, un grup de lucru inter-departamental, care reunete experi din direciile cu
atribuii n materie de ajutor de stat i din direciile de cercetare i relaii externe ale Consiliului Concurenei
(Task Force pregtirea pentru aderare, componenta ajutor de stat).

Task Force a fost constituit pentru coordonarea activitilor necesare n vederea pregtirii perioadei de dup
aderare, n aa fel nct spijinirea agenilor economici din Romnia, prin acordarea de ajutoare de stat, s
continue i dup data aderrii. De asemenea, activitile desfurate n cadrul Task Force au urmrit pregtirea
Consiliului Concurenei pentru ndeplinirea noul su rol de dup aderare, acela de autoritate de contact
naional n relaia cu instituiile comunitare n problematica ajutorului de stat.

n anul 2006, activitatea Task Force s-a intensificat, principalele activiti desfurate viznd:

a) Reprezentarea Consiliului Concurenei n cadrul Grupului de lucru inter-ministerial care a

elaborat Politica n domeniul ajutorului de stat pentru perioada 2006 -2013 (aprobat prin H.G. nr.
651/2006)

Task Force s-a implicat n elaborarea Politicii n domeniul ajutorului de stat, primul document prin care s-a
fundamentat o abordare strategic, la nivel naional, a acestui domeniu. n acelai timp, Task Force a sprijinit
din punct de vedere logistic activitatea grupului de lucru, prin asigurarea secretariatului tehnic al acestuia.

b) Valorificarea oportunitilor oferite de declanarea de ctre Comisia European a procedurii

interimare privind ajutorul existent

Activitatea a presupus ntocmirea listei ajutoarelor existente i transmiterea ctre Comisia European a
informaiilor relevante cu privire la aceste ajutoare. De asemenea, au fost realizate i comunicate Comisiei
Europene modificrile necesare pentru ca o serie de ajutoare de stat care, potrivit regulilor comunitare, sunt
incluse n categoriile exceptate, s poat fi acordate i dup data aderrii, fr a fi notificate la Comisie. Detalii
privind procedura interimar sunt prezentate n seciunea 2.2.3

76
At the Competition Council's request, one undertaking acting in the manufacturing sector (production of basic

6
chemical products) has presented a Report containing supplementary information necessary for ensuring the
transparency of financial relations between this undertakings and public authorities.

2.2.2. Acts issued by the Competition Council on the basis

of Law no. 143/1999 on State aid, republished, challenged in courts

Out of the 174 pending cases in which the Competition Council had locus standi in 2006, 30 cases concerned
acts issued based on Law no. 143 /1999 on State aid.

From the acts issued by the competition authority in 2006 in the field of State aid, five decisions and one notice
of findings were challenged in court. By four of these decisions, the Competition Council had ordered the
recovery of illegal and incompatible aids and by one, it had prohibited the granting of State aid. The notice of
findings challenged in court concerned the violation of provisions of Regulation regarding the transparency of
financial relations between public authorities and public undertaking as well as the financial transparency within
certain undertakings.

During the same period, in the field of State aid eight cases were irrevocably decided; out of these, five
concerned the Decision no.184/2005. Through this decision, the competition authority had declared as illegal
and incompatible State aids granted over the maximum admissible intensity to a number of 31 economic
operators from deprived areas and, consequently, it had ordered the grantors recover these aids. From the eight
cases irrevocably decided, seven were decided in favour of the Competition Council.

2.2.3 Other activities in the field of State aid

In the field of State aid, the accession to European Union was to determine significant changes, both at
legislative and institutional level. Foreseeing these changes, at the end of 2005, at the level of Competition
Council it was created a special inter-departmental working group including experts from the State aid,
research and external relations directorates of the Competition Council (Task Force Preparing for accession,
State aid).

The Task Force was entrusted with the coordination of activities necessary for preparing the period after
accession so that the supporting of economic operators from Romania through granting State aid to continue
after the date of accession. At the same time, activities performed within the framework of Task Force aimed to
prepare the Competition Council for fulfilling its new role after accession, as the national contact authority in
the relation with the community institutions in the State aid field.

In 2006, the Task Force's activity has intensified and its main activities concerned:

a) Representing the Competition Council in the inter-ministerial working group for drafting State aid
Policy Paper for 2006 2013 (approved by G.D. no. 651/2006).

The Task Force was involved in the drafting of State aid policy paper, the first document which constitutes the
base for a strategic approach in this field at a national level. At the same time, the Task Force supported
logistically the activity of the working group, by ensuring its technical secretariat.

b) Using the opportunities offered by the opening up of the interim procedure of existing State aid by
the European Commission

This activity has involved the drafting of the list of existing State aids and the submission to the European
Commission of relevant information concerning these aids. At the same time, for a series of State aids, covered
by block exemptions, the amendments necessary so that these aids be granted after the accession as well were
made and submitted to the Commission. More details on the interim procedure are contained in Section 2.2.3.

77
 c) Intensificarea colaborrii cu autoritile iniiatoare i furnizoare de ajutor de stat
6

Aceast activitate a vizat, n primul rnd, familiarizarea acestor autoriti cu schimbrile importante ateptate
n domeniul ajutorului de stat ca efect al aderrii la Uniunea European. Transferul ctre Comisia European a
competenei de autorizare a ajutoarelor de stat i aplicarea direct a legislaiei comunitare antreneaz o
responsabilitate crescut pentru orice iniiator i/sau furnizor de ajutor de stat, care trebuie s ntocmeasc
proiecte de sprijin financiar compatibile cu legislaia comunitar. Pornind de la aceast premis, Consiliul
Concurenei s-a implicat ntr-o ampl campanie, oferind iniiatorilor/furnizorilor de ajutor de stat consultan
de specialitate pentru elaborarea de proiecte de finaare compatibile cu regulile comunitare n materie de
ajutor de stat.

O importan deosebit a fost acordat colaborrii cu autoritile publice care au rolul de autoriti de
management sau de organisme intermediare n derularea programelor operaionale finanate din fondurile
structurale comunitare. ntr-o prim faz, implicarea Consiliului Concurenei a urmrit asigurarea respectrii
regulilor privind ajutorul de stat nc din faza de elaborare a programelor operaionale. Ulterior, activitatea s-a
concentrat asupra elaborrii schemelor de ajutor de stat prin care vor fi finanate activitile cuprinse n
programele operaionale.

d) Realizarea demersurilor necesare pentru aprobarea de ctre Comisia European a hrii naionale
privind intensitatea maxim a ajutorului de stat regional pentru investiii iniiale

Pe baza hrii naionale se determin intensitile maxime admisibile pentru ajutoarele de stat regionale pentru
investiii iniiale acordate n cele opt regiuni de dezvoltare ale Romniei, care corespund regiunilor NUTS II din
clasificarea statistic la nivelul Uniunii Europene. Harta a fost aprobat la nivel naional prin H.G. nr. 946/2006,
Consiliul Concurenei fiind responsabil cu notificarea ctre Comisia European.

e) Fundamentarea poziiei Romniei fa de proiectul de Comunicare a Comisiei Europene

referitoare la revizuirea modalitii de stabilire a ratelor de referin

n cursul lunii august 2006, Consiliul Concurenei a desfurat o aciune destinat implicrii autoritilor
furnizoare de ajutor de stat n procesul de consultare iniiat de Comisia European cu privire la proiectul de
Comunicare referitoare la revizuirea modalitii de stabilire a ratelor de referin. Importana acestui proiect de
reglementare comunitar rezid n utilizarea ratei de referin pentru calculul valorii ajutoarelor de stat sub
forma subveniilor acordate n trane i pentru determinarea elementului de ajutor de stat cuprins n
mprumuturi cu dobnd subvenionat. De asemenea, aceeai modalitate de calcul va fi utilizat i pentru
determinarea ratelor de actualizare, utilizate pentru determinarea cuantumului dobanzilor aferente
ajutoarelor de stat ilegale a cror recuperare a fost solicitat de ctre Comisia European.

Ca rezultat al acestei aciuni, a fost fundamentat i prezentat Comisiei Europene poziia Romniei fa de
proiectul de Comunicare referitoare la revizuirea modalitii de stabilire a ratelor de referin.

f) Revizuirea traducerii n limba romn a legislaiei comunitare n materie de ajutor de stat.

La data aderrii, legislaia secundar comunitar privind ajutorul de stat a nlocuit n cvasi-totalitate legislaia
romneasc n materie. Contientiznd importana deosebit a publicrii, n Jurnalul Oficial al Uniuni
Europene de limb romn, a unei traduceri corespunztoare a legislaiei comunitare, Consiliul Concurenei a
iniiat, n luna iulie 2006, o colaborare cu Institutul European din Romnia, autoritatea responsabil de
traducerea oficial n limba romn a acquis-ului comunitar.

Acest demers a urmrit asigurarea unei traduceri unitare a legislaiei comunitare n materie de ajutor de stat, n
concordan cu terminologia utilizat de legislaia i jurisprudena comunitar, precum i cu terminologia
folosit de Consiliul Concurenei n activitatea de implementare a legislaiei naionale corespondente.

78
 6
c) Intensifying the collaboration with the authorities initiating and granting State aids.

This activity aimed mainly to make these authorities aware of the significant changes foreseen in the field of
State aid as an effect of the accession to the European Union. The transfer to the European Commission of the
competence of authorisation of State aid and the direct applicability of the Community legislation triggers an
increased responsibility for any initiator and grantor of State aid, which will have to draft projects of financial
support compatible with Community legislation. Against this background, Competition Council launched an
extensive campaign, offering the initiators/grantors of State aid specialised consultancy for drafting financing
projects compatible with the Community rules on State aid.

A significant importance was given to the collaboration with the public authority having roles of managing
authorities or intermediary bodies in the implementation of the operational programs financed from structural
funds. In a first phase, the Competition Council aimed to ensure the compatibility with the rules on State aid
from the phase of drafting the operational programs. At a later stage, the activity focused on the drafting State
aid schemes for the financing of the activities from the operational programs.

d) Undertaking the necessary measures to ensure the approval by the European Commission of the
national map on the maximum intensity of the regional State aid for initial investments.

The maximum admissible intensities for regional State aid for initial investments granted in the eight
development regions of Romania, corresponding to NUTS II regions from the statistical classifications at the
level of the European Union are set based on the national map. The map was approved at national level by
G.O. no. 946/2006; Competition Council was responsible for the map's notification to the European
Commission.

e) Founding Romania's position concerning the draft Commission Communication on the revision of
the method of setting the reference rates.

In August 2006, Competition Council organised an action aimed to involve the authorities granting State aid in
the consultation process initiated by the European Commission with regards to draft Communication on the
revision of the modalities of setting the reference rate. The importance of this draft Community legislation
consists in the use of the reference rate for the calculation of value of State aids in the form of subventions
granted in instalments and for the determination of the part representing State aid in case of loans with
subsidized interest. At the same time, the same calculation method will be also used for determining the
discounting rates, which are used for determining the amount of interest afferent to illegal State aids whose
recovery was requested by the European Commission.

As a result of this action, Romania's position with regards to the draft Communication on the revision of the
modality of setting the reference rates was drafted and presented to the European Commission.

f) Revision of the Romanian translation of the Community legislation in the field of State aid

Upon accession, the secondary Community legislation on State aid will replace quasi-totally the Romanian
legislation in the field. Understanding the importance of having an accurate translation published in the
Romanian version of the Official Journal of the European Union, in July 2006, the Competition Council
initiated collaboration with the European Institute of Romania, the authority responsible for the official
translation into Romanian of the acquis communautaire.

This action aimed to ensure a coherent translation of Community legislation in the field of State aid, consistent
with the terminology used by the Community legislation and jurisprudence, as well as with the terminology
used by the Competition Council in the enforcement of the corresponding national legislation.

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 2.2.4. Procedura interimar privind ajutorul existent
6

Cel mai important element de progres evideniat de Raportul publicat de Comisia European pe 16 mai 2006 a
fost reprezentat de mbuntirea semnificativ a aplicrii regulilor de ajutor de stat. A fost pentru prima dat
cnd, printr-un Raport de ar, Comisia European a recunoscut capacitatea Romniei de a aplica, la
standarde europene, acquis-ul n materie de ajutor de stat. Aceast dezvoltare a permis deschiderea procedurii
interimare de analiz a ajutoarelor autorizate de Consiliul Concurenei nainte de data aderrii i pentru care se
inteniona continuarea acordrii i dup aceast dat.

Toate msurile de ajutor naintate Comisiei Europene, n conformitate cu procedura interimar, nainte de data
aderrii sunt analizate de forul comunitar n cadrul acestui mecanism, indiferent dac n perioada de
examinare statul n cauz a devenit membru al Uniunii.

Procedura interimar de analiz a ajutoarelor existente nu se aplic ajutoarelor din sectorul transporturilor, nici
activitilor legate de producerea, prelucrarea sau comercializarea produselor enumerate n Anexa I a
Tratatului CE, cu excepia produselor piscicole i a produselor derivate din acestea.

Pentru ca ajutorul s poat fi analizat n cadrul procedurii interimare, msura trebuie s fie implementat de
Romnia nainte de data aderrii, iar aplicabilitatea acesteia s depeasc momentul aderrii. Cu alte cuvinte,
regulile comunitare n baza crora se realizeaz analiza unei msuri propuse trebuie s fie n vigoare att
nainte de data aderrii, ct i dup acest moment.

n acest context, Romnia nu a putut transmite, n cadrul procedurii interimare, scheme de ajutor regional
ntruct vechile Linii directoare comunitare privind ajutorul de stat regional i-au ncetat aplicabilitatea la 31
decembrie 2006.

De asemenea, Comisia European a recomandat Romniei s nu propun msuri bazate pe Regulamentele

comunitare privind exceptrile pe categorii i care conin bonusuri regionale de intensitate, ntruct nivelul
acestor bonusuri ar fi putut suferi modificri pn la data aderrii.

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2.2.4. Interim procedure of existing aid

6
The most important element of progress highlighted in the Report published by the European Commission on
16 May 2006 was the significant improvement of the enforcement of State aid rules. It was for the first time
when, in a Country Report, the European Commission has acknowledged Romania's capacity to apply, at
European standards, the State aid acquis. This development has allowed the opening up of the procedure for
the analysis of State aids authorised by Competition Council before the accession and which was intended to
continue to be granted after that date.

All State aid measures notified to the European Commission, in accordance with the interim procedure, before
the date of accession, are analyzed by the European institution within this mechanism, irrespective to the fact
that meanwhile the state in question became an EU member.

The interim procedure for the analysis of existing aid does not apply to aids in the transports sector, to activities
linked to the production, manufacturing and marketing of products listed in the Annexe 1 to the EC Treaty with
the exception of fishery products and of products derived from these.

In order to have an aid analysed within the interim procedure, this measure must have been implemented by
Romania before the date of accession and its applicability to continue after this moment. In other words, the
Community rules based on which a measure is analysed must be in force both before and after the date of
accession.

In this context, Romania was not been able to transmit, within the interim procedure, schemes of regional aid
because of the fact that the applicability of Community guidelines on regional State aid ended on 31st
December 2006.

At the same time, the European Commission has recommended to Romania to refrain from submitting
measures based on the Community block exemption regulations which contain regional bonuses of intensity
because of the fact that these bonuses could have been modified before the date of accession.

81
 Capitolul III

n conformitate cu atribuiile conferite de lege, Consiliul

PREVALENA LEGISLAIEI
6

Concurenei poate urmri msurile legislative sau administrative i

poate evalua efectele anticoncureniale ale acestora att ex-ante
ct i ex-post. n acest sens, n anul 2006, Consiliul Concurenei a
N DOMENIUL
acionat cu perseveren pentru asigurarea prevalenei legislaiei
n domeniul concurenei asupra celorlalte acte normative n
CONCURENEI ASUPRA
beneficiul asigurrii sau restaurrii unui mediului concurenial LEGISLAIEI MEDIULUI
normal.
DE AFACERI I ASUPRA
Analiza de Impact a Reglementrii (AIR) este instrumentul
utilizat pentru evaluarea sistematic a impactului reglementrilor LEGISLAIEI CARE
aflate n stadiu de proiect sau deja n vigoare. Aceasta are rolul de
a identifica eventualele efecte anticoncureniale neprevzute de
INSTITUIE MSURI DE
legiuitor la redactarea actelor normative i de a gsi modalitile NATURA AJUTORULUI
cele mai adecvate pentru a corecta sau elimina aceste efecte. n
acest scop, la nivelul Consiliului Concurenei funcioneaz o DE STAT
unitate specializat de aplicare a tehnicilor de tip AIR.

Un reprezentant al Consiliului Concurenei particip, n

fiecare sptmn, la reuniunile pregtitoare ale edinelor de
guvern n care se dezbat actele normative ce urmeaz a fi incluse
pe ordinea de zi a edinelor de guvern. Aceasta permite
identificarea msurilor cu potenial efect anticoncurenial,
precum i a msurilor de natura ajutorului de stat.

3.1. Consultri ex-ante

n cadrul sistemului de consultri ex-ante, Consiliul Concurenei

i-a intensificat dialogul cu autoritile publice att n cadrul
Grupului Interministerial de lucru pe probleme de concuren
i a Grupului interministerial de lucru pe probleme de ajutor de
stat, pe de o parte, ct i n cadrul manifestrilor desfurate n
baza protocoalelor de colaborare ncheiate cu autoriti de
reglementare, organizaii i asociaii nonguvernamentale, pe de
alt parte.

a) Grupul Interministerial de lucru

pe probleme de concuren

n anul 2006, au avut loc 9 ntruniri n care au fost abordate

probleme care au vizat n principal:
= Activitatea Concurenei n ceea ce privete cooperarea cu
ministerele reprezentate n cadrul grupului, n primul
semestru al anului 2006. Au fost prezentate inteniile
Consiliului Concurenei de a organiza pentru fiecare
minister o serie de seminarii i ntlniri bilaterale, n cadrul
crora s se fac prezentri ale prevederilor legale
referitoare la concuren i s se discute aspecte de interes
comun;
= Misiunea de evaluare a Comisiei Europene din perioada
20-22 martie 2006;
= Aspecte sesizate n cazul procedurilor de achiziii publice
pentru aprovizionarea cu consumabile pentru
echipamente de birou;
= Prezentarea realizat de Autoritatea Naional pentru
Reglementarea i Monitorizarea Achiziiilor Publice: cadru
legislativ, programe de training i promovare a legislaiei n
domeniul achiziiilor publice;
= Prevederi normative cu potenial impact anticoncurenial.
Discuiile s-au axat pe probleme legislative n general, fiind
menionate, cu titlu exemplificativ, reglementrile din
domeniul taximetriei referitoare la stabilirea administrativ
a numrului de operatori, stabilirea nivelelor minime i

82
 Chapter III

According to attributions conferred upon it by the law,

PREVALENCE OF

6
Competition Council can observe the legislative and administrative
LEGISLATION IN THE measures and can evaluate their anticompetitive effects, both ex-
ante and ex-post. To this end, in 2006, Competition Council has
FIELD OF COMPETITION consistently acted for ensuring the prevalence of the legislation in
the field of competition over other normative acts with a view to
OVER THE BUSINESS create or restore a normal competitive environment.
LEGISLATION AND Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) is the tool used for the
systematic evaluation of impact of regulations under drafting or
OVER THE LEGISLATION already in force. This has the role to identify the likely
INSTITUTING anticompetitive effects unforeseen by the legislator when drafting
the normative acts and to find the most appropriate means to
MEASURES OF STATE correct and eliminate these effects. To this end, a special unit for
the application of RIA techniques functions at the level
AID NATURE Competition Council.

The Competition Council's representative participates every

week at the preparatory Government meetings in which the
draft normative acts are discussed before they are placed on the
Government meetings' agenda. This allows the identification of
measures having potential anticompetitive impact and of measures
of State aid nature.

3.1. Consultations ex-ante

In the framework of ex-ante consultations, Competition Council

has intensified the dialogue with the public authorities both within
the Inter-ministerial working group on competition and the
Inter-ministerial working group on State aid, on one hand, and
on the basis of protocols of cooperation concluded with the
regulatory agencies, organisations and non-governmental
associations, on the other hand.

a) The Inter-ministerial
working group on competition

In 2006, were organised 9 meetings, on topics concerning mainly

the following:

Competition
= Council's activities of collaboration with the
ministries represented in the group scheduled in the first
semester of 2006. Competition Council has presented its
intentions to organise with each ministry a series of seminars
and bilateral meetings, which will include competition law
presentations and discussions on topics of common interests;
The European Commission's evaluation mission between 20
=
and 22 of March 2006;
Issues identified in case of public procurement procedures for
=
acquisition of office equipment consumables;
Presentation delivered by the National Authority for
=
Regulating and Monitoring the Public Procurement: legal
framework, programs of training and advocacy in the field of
public procurement;
Legal provisions with potential anticompetitive impact. The
=
discussions focused generally on legislative matters, such as
the regulations from the taxi sector concerning the
administrative setting of number of operators, the setting of
minimum and maximum level of tariffs charged, as well as the

83
 maxime ale tarifelor practicate, precum i la consultarea asociaiilor profesionale din domeniu n
6

stabilirea tarifelor.
Nouti legislative cuprinse n proiectul de lege privind modificarea Codului Fiscal, precum i noi
=
orientri n vederea mbuntirii activitii de Analiz de Impact a Reglementrii (RIA) asupra mediului
concurenial;
Aderarea la 1 ianuarie 2007 i continuarea procesului integrrii; evaluri i perspective ale activitii
=
specifice fiecrui minister privind integrarea;
Evitarea unor conflicte de competen ntre autoritatea de concuren i structuri din cadrul
=
ministerelor cu atribuii similare Consiliului Concurenei;
Probleme privind societile n care statul este reprezentat de ministere; rolul reprezentanilor
=
ministerelor n conducerea acestor societi; rolul i activitatea Consiliului de Supraveghere din
domeniul feroviar.

b) Grupul interministerial de lucru pe probleme de ajutor de stat

n domeniul ajutorului de stat au fost desfurate un numr de 11 ntlniri ale Grupului, n cadrul crora s-au
dezbtut aspecte privind :
=Organizarea de ctre autoritile publice a evidenei relaiilor financiare cu ntreprinderile care intr sub
incidena Regulamentului privind transparena relaiilor financiare ntre autoritile publice i
ntreprinderile publice, precum i transparena financiar n cadrul anumitor ntreprinderi; stabilirea unei
modaliti de colaborare cu autoritile de reglementare sectorial n ceea ce privete furnizarea unor
date i infomaii necesare ntocmirii Raportului final privind transparena relaiilor financiare; probleme
n legtur cu elaborarea strategiei naionale privind politica n domeniul ajutorului de stat;
=Problematica schemelor de ajutor de stat;
=Prezentarea noilor reglementri n domeniul ajutorului de stat regional; dificulti ntmpinate de
autoritile de management n definitivarea programelor operaionale;
=Monitorizarea ajutoarelor de stat acordate n zonele libere, zonele defavorizate i n parcurile
industriale;
=Implicaiile legislaiei ajutorului de stat la nivelul autoritilor publice locale;
=Procedura de raportare i monitorizare a ajutoarelor de stat, n vederea ntocmirii Inventarului
ajutoarelor de stat; clarificarea unor probleme cu care se confrunt instituiile furnizoare de ajutor de
stat n ndeplinirea atribuiilor ce le revin i n raportarea corect a ajutoarelor de stat acordate;
=Scheme de ajutor de stat pentru investiii avnd ca obiectiv dezvoltarea regional;
=Ajutorul de stat dup 1 ianuarie 2007 - elemente structurale de asisten de care Romnia va beneficia
dup data aderrii la Uniunea European, principii de punere n aplicare a fondurilor structurale i
principalele prevederi comunitare n domeniul ajutorului de stat;
=Schemele de ajutor de stat i fondurile structurale;
=Ajutoarele de stat i fondurile structurale din perspectiva noilor reguli comunitare;
=Modalitatea de raportare i monitorizare a ajutoarelor fiscale.

c) Protocoale de colaborare

n cadrul celor 17 protocoale ncheiate cu autoriti centrale, agenii guvernamentale i asociaii profesionale,
n anul 2006 au avut loc 78 de aciuni care au asigurat schimbul reciproc de informaii pentru interpretarea i
aplicarea corect a regulilor de concuren. Totodat, s-au ncheiat 2 noi protocoale de colaborare cu:
Inspectoratul General pentru Comunicaii i Tehnologia Informaiei i Asociaia Naional pentru Protecia
Consumatorilor i Promovarea Produselor i Serviciilor din Romnia.

3.2. Emiterea de avize i formularea de puncte

de vedere asupra actelor normative

n anul 2006, Consiliul Concurenei a emis un numr de 70 de avize, din care 19 n domeniul concurenei i
51 n sfera ajutorului de stat.

Totodat, autoritatea de concuren a transmis 26 de puncte de vedere referitoare la 14 acte normative din
domeniul concurenei i 12 acte normative referitoare la msuri de natura ajutorului de stat.

Pentru actele normative la care au fost identificate o serie de prevederi cu efect anticoncurenial, Consiliul
Concurenei a intervenit, cu propuneri argumentate pentru eliminarea respectivelor prevederi, n 12 cazuri:

84
 consultation of professional association from the industry when setting the tariffs;

6
New legislative
= developments contained by the draft law for amending the Fiscal Code; new orientations
for improving the activity of Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) on the competitive environment.
The accession at 1st of January 2007 and the continuation of the integration process; evaluation and
=
perspectives of each ministry's specific activity related to integration;
The avoidance of some conflicts of competencies between the competition authority and certain
=
structures within the ministries having attributions similar to those of the Competition Council;
Problems concerning the companies in which the state is represented by the ministries; the role of
=
ministries' representatives in the management of these companies; the Railway Supervision Council's role
and activities.

b) Inter-ministerial working group on State aid

In the field of State aid, there were organised 11 meetings of the group; the debates focused on the following
topics:
= Organising by the public authorities of records of the financial relations with the undertakings falling
within the scope Regulation on the transparency of financial relations between public authorities and
public undertakings, as well as the financial transparency within certain undertakings; establishing a
method of collaboration with the sectoral regulatory authorities for the provision of certain data and
information necessary for drafting the final Report on the transparency of financial relations; matters
related to the drafting of the national strategy in the field of State aid;
= State aid schemes;
= Presentation of the new rules on regional State aid; difficulties encountered by the managing authorities
in finalising the operational programs;
= Monitoring the State aids granted in free zones, deprived areas and industrial parks;
= Implications of the State aid legislation at the level of local public authorities;
= Procedure for reporting and monitoring the State aids in view of drafting the State aid Inventory;
clarification of several problems encountered by the granting authorities when performing their
attributions and related to reporting correctly the granted State aids;
= State aid schemes for investments having as objective the regional development;
= State aid after 1 January 2007 structural instruments of assistance of which Romania will benefit after the
date of accession to the European Union, principles for accessing the structural funds and main
Community provisions in the field of State aid;
= State aid schemes and structural funds;
= State aids and structural funds from the perspective of the new Community rules;
= Method of reporting and monitoring the fiscal aids.

c) Protocols of collaboration

In 2006, in the framework of the 17 protocols concluded with central authorities, governmental agencies and
professional associations, 78 actions took place ensuring the exchange of information on the interpretation
and on the correct application of competition rules. At the same time, other two new protocols of collaboration
were concluded with the General Inspectorate for Communications and Information Technology and with the
National Association for the Consumer Protection and for the Promotion of Goods and Services in Romania.

3.2. Binding opinions and points

of view on normative acts

In 2006, Competition Council issued 70 binding opinions, out of which 19 in the field of competition and
51 in the field of State aid.

At the same time, the competition authority submitted 26 points of view on 14 normative acts from the field of
competition and on 12 normative acts regarding measures of State aid nature.

In case of the normative acts identified as containing a series of provisions with anticompetitive effects, in 12
cases Competition Council has intervened with reasoned proposals for the removal of the said provisions:

85
 Legea nr.31/2000
g privind stabilirea i sancionarea contraveniilor silvice, pe piaa recoltrii i/sau
6

achiziiei i comercializrii fructelor din flora slbatic:

Ca urmare a unor sesizri referitoare la comportamentul Regiei Naionale a Pdurilor Romsilva (RNP) pe
piaa exploatrii fructelor din flora salbatic, Consiliul Concurenei a constatat existena unor neclariti n ceea
ce privete cadrul de reglementare a acestor activiti.

RNP aplic strategia naional n domeniul silviculturii i acioneaz pentru aprarea, conservarea i
dezvoltarea durabil a fondului forestier proprietate public a statului, fiind investit i cu atribuii de
autorizare i control al agenilor economici cu capital privat ce acioneaz pe piaa recoltrii i valorificrii (n
principal la export) a fructelor din flora salbatic i a altor produse specifice fondului forestier.

RNP administreaz o parte important din fondul forestier naional i exploateaz, n calitate de agent
economic, produse nelemnoase specifice fondului forestier, avnd, n anumite situaii, capacitatea de a aplica
sanciuni societilor cu care se concura pe pia.

Considernd c aceast situaie este de natur s creeze condiii favorabile pentru ca RNP s abuzeze de
posibilitatea de a controla accesul la resursele naturale, a cror exploatare constituie si obiectul su de
activitate, Consiliul Concurenei a recomandat reformularea art. 2 lit. h) ?i a art. 8 alin. 1) din Legea nr. 31/2000
privind stabilirea i sancionarea contraveniilor silvice.

Intenia
g Guvernului Romniei de a aproba trecerea imobilelor reprezentnd Sala Polivalent
OLIMPIA i Complexul Sportiv BEGA situate n municipiul Timisoara, din domeniul public al
statului i din administrarea Ageniei Naionale pentru Sport n domeniul public al municipiului
Timioara i n administrarea Consiliului Local Timioara:

Guvernul Romniei a solicitat Consiliului Concurenei un punct de vedere referitor la eventuala

neconcordan dintre normele legale privind trecerea imobilelor reprezentnd Sala Polivalent OLIMPIA i
Complexul Sportiv BEGA, situate n municipiul Timisoara, din domeniul public al statului i din administrarea
Ageniei Naionale pentru Sport n domeniul public al municipiului Timioara i n administrarea Consiliului
Local Timisoara, prevzute n proiectul actului normativ transmis, i cele din domeniul concurenei;

n proiectul actului normativ se stabilea obligaia Consiliului Local Timioara de a asigura servicii sportive cu
prioritate pentru activiti de pregtire i competiionale ale federaiilor sportive naionale i ale structurilor
sportive judeene recunoscute n condiiile legii, la tarifele practicate de Agenia Naional pentru Sport.

n cadrul analizei s-a constatat c nu exist un temei legal potrivit cruia Agenia Naional pentru Sport s
impun Consiliului Local Timioara tarifele pentru serviciile sportive care se vor desfsura n bazele sportive
judeene transferate n conformitate cu proiectul de act normativ supus analizei.

Singurul act normativ referitor la tarife pentru serviciile sportive este HG nr.484/2003 pentru aprobarea
normelor privind reglementarea unor probleme financiare n activitatea sportiv. Dispozitiile acestui act
normativ sunt obligatorii doar pentru deintorii de baze sportive din reeaua Ageniei Naionale pentru Sport i
a Comitetului Olimpic i Sportiv Romn.

Potrivit prevederilor Legii administraiei publice locale nr.215/2001, cu modificrile i completrile ulterioare,
consiliul local are ca atribuii administrarea domeniului public i domeniului privat al comunei sau oraului,
precum i asigurarea, potrivit competenelor sale, a condiiilor materiale i financiare necesare pentru buna
funcionare a instituiilor i serviciilor publice de educaie, sntate, cultur, tineret i sport.

Avnd n vedere cele de mai sus, Consiliul Concurenei a subliniat c tarifele serviciilor sportive pentru activitati
de pregtire i competiionale ale federaiilor sportive naionale i ale structurilor sportive judeene trebuie s
fie stabilite de ctre Consiliul Local Timioara, n calitatea sa de viitor administrator al imobilelor reprezentnd
Sala Polivalent OLIMPIA i Complexul Sportiv BEGA.

Proiectul
g de asociere n participaiune ntre Consiliul Judeean Prahova, Consiliul Local al oraului
Vlenii de Munte i S.C. Termoelectrica Ploieti S.A. pentru realizarea activitii n cadrul Rampei
Ecologice i Staiei de Brichetare Vlenii de Munte:

Intrarea n parteneriat cu o societate aflat n dificultate poate fi considerat compatibil cu mediul

concurenial normal numai n situatia n care sunt respectate prevederile Regulamentului privind ajutorul de
stat pentru salvarea i restructurarea ntreprinderilor n dificultate.

86
g Law no. 31/2000 on establishing and sanctioning forestry administrative offences, on the market of

6
harvesting and/or acquiring and marketing fruits from the spontaneous flora:

Following some complaints concerning the behaviour of the National Forest Administration Romsilva (NFA)
on the market of exploiting the fruits from the spontaneous flora, Competition Council has identified the
existence of some ambiguities in the regulatory framework for these activities.

NFA applies the national strategy in the field of forestry and it acts for the protection, preservation and durable
development of the publicly owned forestry fund; it is also entrusted with attributions for authorising and
controlling the economic operators with private capital acting on the market of harvesting and marketing
(especially at export) of fruits from the spontaneous flora and of other products specific to the forestry fund.

NFA administers an important part of the national forestry fund and it exploits, as an economic operator, the
non-wood products specific to the forestry fund, holding, in certain circumstances, the ability to apply fines to
economic operators against which it is competing on the market.

Competition Council concluded that this situation is likely to create favourable conditions for the NFA to abuse
of its ability to control the access to natural resources the exploitation of which constitutes also its field of
activity; Competition Council recommended the rephrasing of Article 2 let.h) and of Article 8 par. 1) of the Law
no. 31/2000 on establishing and sanctioning forestry administrative offences.

g Romanian Government's intention to approve the transfer of several buildings consisting in Sala
Polivalent OLIMPIA and Complexul Sportiv BEGA located in Timioara town, from the state's public
domain and from the administration of the National Sports Agency to the public domain of the Timioara
town and in the administration of the Timioara Local Council.

Romanian Government requested the Competition Council's point of view on the compatibility with the
competition law of the legal provisions on the transfer of the buildings consisting in Sala Polivalent OLIMPIA
and Complexul Sportiv BEGA located in the Timioara town, from the state's public domain and from the
administration of National Sports Agency for to the public domain of the Timioara town and in the
administration of the Timioara Local Council.

Through the draft normative act, Timioara Local Council was obliged to provide sportive services with priority
in case of preparation activities and of competitions of the national sports federations and of county sportive
structures recognised by the law, at tariffs charged by the National Sports Agency.

Following the assessment, it was found that there was no legal basis allowing the National Sports Agency to
impose to Timioara Local Council the tariffs for the sportive services provided in the county sports bases
transferred through the analysed draft normative act.

The only normative act concerning the tariffs for sportive services is G.D. no. 484/2003 for approving the norms
regarding the regulation of some financial matters in the sports activity. The provisions of this normative act are
binding only for the holders of sports bases from the network of the National Sports Agency and of the
Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee.

According to the provisions of Law no. 215/2001 on local public administration, as amended and completed,
the local council has as its attributions to administer the commune's or of the town's public and private domain
and to ensure, according to its competencies, of the material and financial conditions necessary for the good
functioning of public institutions and services of education, health, culture, youth and sports.

Taking into account the above mentioned, Competition Council has underlined that the tariffs for sportive
service for preparation activities and competitions of the national sports federations and of the country sports
structures must be set by the Timioara Local Council, in its capacity as the future administrator of Sala
Polivalent OLIMPIA and Complexul Sportiv BEGA.

g Project of association by participation between the Prahova County Council, the Local County of the
town Vlenii de Munte and S.C. Termoelectrica Ploieti S.A. for undertaking activities at the Ecologic
Ramp and Lighting Station Vlenii de Munte:

Entering into a partnership with an undertaking in difficulty can be considered compatible with the normal
competitive environment only if the provisions of the Regulation on State aid for rescue and restructuring the
firms in difficulty are observed.

87
 Informaiile puse la dispozitia Consiliului Concurenei de ctre Consiliul Judeean Prahova nu au fost de natur
6

s justifice ncredinarea direct a operrii Rampei Ecologice, astfel c autoritatea de concuren consider c
aceast asociere n participaiune amenin s distorsioneze semnificativ concurena pe pia.

Pentru a nu se aduce atingere mediului concurenial, Consiliul Concurenei a transmis Consiliului Judeean
Prahova c autoritatea public local trebuie s acioneze n conformitate cu reglementrile ce guverneaz
materia serviciului public de salubrizare, n sensul selectrii operatorului prin licitaie public, astfel nct orice
agent economic interesat s aib posibilitatea de a deveni, n condiiile legii, contractant.

Proiectul
g Legii serviciului de administrare a domeniului public i privat al unitilor administrativ-
teritoriale:

n temeiul art.26 lit.l) din Legea concurenei nr.21/1996, republicat, proiectul a fost avizat favorabil n
urmtoarele condiii:

- Eliminarea dispoziiei care abiliteaz autoritile locale s verifice periodic respectarea limitelor minime i
maxime ale profitului prestatorului. Intervenia autoritilor publice locale pe pia trebuie s se limiteze la
ceea ce este strict necesar pentru buna desfurare a serviciului public i s se justifice n mod obiectiv.

Autoritile administraiei publice locale sunt abilitate s verifice i s aprobe structura i nivelurile preurilor i
tarifelor practicate de ctre prestatori. n acest fel, se ofer autoritilor locale instrumentul necesar pentru a se
asigura c preurile i tarifele practicate de ctre prestatori pentru activitile din sfera serviciului de
administrare a domeniului public i privat sunt justificate n mod obiectiv.

Prin verificarea i aprobarea nivelului preurilor i tarifelor, autoritile locale verific i aprob n mod implicit i
nivelul profitului. Fa de cele artate mai sus, nici stabilirea i nici verificarea unor limite minime i maxime ale
profitului nu se justific.

- Completarea actului normativ cu noi dispoziii, necesare pentru a asigura respectarea prevederilor legislaiei
n domeniul ajutorului de stat, n special cele referitoare la ajutorul de stat sub forma compensrilor pentru
ndeplinirea serviciilor de interes economic general.

Pentru a evita incidena aplicrii prevederilor Legii nr. 143/1999 privind ajutorul de stat, republicat,
ncredinarea serviciului de administrare a domeniului public i privat trebuie s se realizeze prin licitaie
public, iar celelalte criterii prevzute n Regulamentul privind ajutorul de stat sub forma compensrilor
acordate anumitor ntreprinderi crora le-a fost ncredinat prestarea unor servicii de interes economic
general17 s fie ndeplinite.

Ordinul
g nr.461/26.03.2003 emis de Ministerul Lucrrilor Publice, Transporturilor i Locuinelor, n
vederea asigurrii unor condiii egale pentru toi ageni economici de pe piaa transportului feroviar de
marf; aceast intervenie a fost realizat n contextul sanciunii aplicate de Consiliul Concurenei n cazul
Societii Naionale de Transport Feroviar de Marf CFR Marf SA, pentru abuz de poziie dominant.

Ordinul
g Ministrului Sntii nr.56/45/2005 referitor la reglementrile privind alocarea plafonului
pentru bolile cronice:

La data de 30.05.2006, Colegiul farmacitilor din Romnia a transmis Consiliului Concurenei un material
privind problemele aprute n cadrul procesului de negociere a adaosului comercial al farmaciei, aplicat
medicamentelor eliberate pentru cele 10 boli cronice prevzute de Normele metodologice de aplicare a
Contractului-Cadru privind condiiile acordrii asistenei medicale n cadrul sistemului de asigurri sociale de
sntate n anul 2006.

Pe de o parte, atribuirea unui serviciu decontat din fondul asigurrilor sociale de sntate se realizeaz printr-o
alt procedur dect cea a achiziiilor publice i, pe de alt parte, este restricionat administrativ libertatea
unui agent economic de a-i gestiona plafonul atribuit n urma unei competiii deschise.

88
Information provided to the Competition Council did not justify the direct entrustment of the operation of

6
Ecologic Ramp and Lighting Station; the competition authority has considered that this association by
participation threatens to adversely distort the competition on the market.

Competition Council has communicated to Prahova County Council that, in order to avoid the distortion of the
competitive environment, the local public authority must act in accordance with the rules governing the public
service of sanitation and select the operator through public tender, so that any economic operator interested to
have the possibility to become a contractor.

Draft law
g on service of administration of the public and private domain of the administrative-
territorial units:

Based on Article 26 let.l) of Competition law no.21/1996, republished, the draft received a favourable opinion
with the following conditions:
- removal of the provision allowing the local public authorities to check periodically the observance of
minimum and maximum limits of the profits obtained by the operator. The local public authorities' intervention
on the market should be limited to what is strictly necessary for the good functioning of the public service and
be objectively justified.

The local public administration authorities are empowered to check and approve the structure and the levels of
tariffs charged by the operators. In this way, the local authorities are granted the tool necessary for ensuring that
the prices and tariffs charged by the operators for activities related to the service of administration of the public
and private domain are objectively justified.

By checking and approving the level of prices and tariffs, the local authorities implicitly checks and approves
the level of profit. Based on the above mentioned, setting or checking some minimum and maximum limits for
the profits are not justified.

- introduction in the normative act of new provisions, necessary for ensuring the observance of the State aid
legal provisions, especially of those regarding the State aid in the form of compensation for the provision of
services of general economic interest.

To avoid the application of the provisions of the Law no.143/1999 on State aid, republished, the service of
administration of the public and private domain must be awarded through public tender and with the
observance of the other criteria contained in the Regulation of State aid as compensations granted to certain
undertakings entrusted with the provision of services of general economic interest17.

Order no.461/26.03.2003
g of the Ministry of Public Works, Transports and Housing, with a view to
ensure equal conditions for all economic operators acting on the market of rail freight transportation; this
intervention was done in the context of the fine imposed by Competition Council on the National Company of
Rail Freight Transportation CFR Marf SA, for abusing its dominant position.

Order of
g the Minister of Health no. 56/45/2005 regarding the regulations on the allocation of the
ceiling in cronical diseases:

On 30 May 2006, the Pharmacists Colegium of Romania has submitted to Competition Council a document
concerning the problems which have occurred in the process of negotiating the commercial mark-ups applied
by pharmacy shops in case of medicines prescribed for the ten cronical diseases listed in the Methodological
norms for the application of the Framework-contract regarding the conditions for providing medical assistance in
the social health insurance system in 2006.

A service reimbursed from the Social Health Insurance System is awarded through a procedure, which differs
from public procurement procedure, and, on the other hand, the freedom of an economic operator to
administer the ceiling granted after an open competition is restricted administratively.

89
 Consiliul Concurenei, n baza atribuiilor conferite de lege, a propus:
6

a) modificarea Normelor metodologice de aplicare a Contractului-Cadru privind condiiile acordrii

asistenei medicale n cadrul sistemului de asigurri sociale de sntate, n sensul organizrii procesului
de negociere a adaosului comercial, n conformitate cu legislaia n domeniul achiziiilor publice;
b) eliminarea prevederii conform creia un furnizor de servicii farmaceutice poate aloca suma atribuit
prin maxim 2 farmacii.

Legea nr.38/2003 privind transportul n regim de taxi i n regim de nchiriere:

g

Reprezentanii Consiliului Concurenei au fost prezeni la trei edine ale Comisiei Economice, Industrii i
Servicii din Senatul Romniei, pentru a susine puncte de vedere cu privire la:
a) propunerea legislativ privind autorizarea i efectuarea transportului n regim de taxi;
b) propunerea legislativ privind transportul n regim de taxi;
c) propunerea legislativ de modificare a Legii nr.38/2003 privind transportul n regim de taxi i n regim
de nchiriere.

Consiliul Concurentei a intervenit n ceea ce privete urmtoarele principale aspecte:

- eliminarea limitrii numerice a autorizaiilor taxi de ctre autoritile administraiei publice locale i ale
municipiului Bucureti

Orice limitare cantitativ reprezint o barier la intrarea pe pia i conduce, pe lng reducerea numrului de
furnizori de servicii i la diminuarea posibilitilor consumatorului de a alege. ntr-o pia concurenial,
numrul de operatori este rezultatul aciunii cererii i ofertei.

n cazul serviciilor de taximetrie, limitarea numeric a autorizaiilor de taxi are ca principal dezavantaj pentru
consumator creterea tarifelor i a timpilor de ateptare, parametrii de baz ai acestui serviciu. Restrngerea
artificial a numrului de autorizaii, implicit a numrului de operatori i de taxiuri ofer posibilitatea fiecrui
operator de transport n regim de taxi sau taximetrist independent s creasc tarifele fr a mai fi influenat de
presiunea concurenei numerice. Totodat, este redus considerabil preocuparea operatorilor pentru
mbuntirea calitii serviciului oferit.

- eliminarea limitelor minime i maxime ale tarifelor percepute de ctre operatorii de taxi

Fixarea i impunerea unui nivel al tarifului, prin stabilirea unor limite minime i maxime, reprezint unele
dintre cele mai nocive practici interzise de legislaia concurenei: acestea afecteaz concurena pe piaa
serviciilor respective, n final fiind dezavantajat utilizatorul acestor servicii.
Astfel, consumatorul nu va beneficia de tarife mai mici dect cele stabilite i impuse, fiind eliminat prin
urmare, posibilitatea sa de a alege. De asemenea, n practic, atunci cnd sunt stabilite limite maxime ale unor
tarife, se tinde ctre aceste limite iar tarifele sunt interpretate ca fiind fixe. n acest fel se elimin mecanismele
pietei pentru determinarea acestora.

- eliminarea mecanismului de consultare de ctre autoritile publice locale i Consiliul General al Municipiului
Bucureti a asociaiilor profesionale reprezentative la nivel local cu privire la stabilirea numrului maxim de
autorizaii

Chiar n condiiile reprezentrii de ctre aceste asociaii a intereselor membrilor lor, orice consultare creeaz
premisele unor schimburi de informaii. Orice astfel de schimb de informatii ntre firme concurente poate avea
ca efect o coordonare a comportamentului pe pia, practic anticoncurenial incriminat de art. 5 alin.(1)
din Legea concurenei nr.21/1996, republicat.

- eliminarea limitrii n timp a funcionrii unui autovehicul n regim de taxi

Stabilirea unor limite n ceea ce privete vechimea autovehiculului reprezint o barier la intrarea pe pia
analizat care conduce la restrngerea concurenei ntre operatorii de taxi, aspect de natur a contraveni Legii
concurenei.

- eliminarea condiionrii impuse prestatorilor de servicii de transport n regim de taxi de a lucra la tarifele
stabilite de ctre dispeceratele taxi

90
Competition Council, based on the competencies conferred upon it by law, has recommended:

6
a) the amendment of the Methodological norms for the application of the Framework-contract regarding
the conditions for providing medical assistance in the social health insurance system, so that the process
of negotiating the commercial mark-ups be organised in conformity with the public procurement
legislation;
b) the removal of the provision according to which a provider of pharmaceutical services can deliver the
allocated ceiling through maximum two pharmacy shops.

Law no. 38/2003 regarding the transport in taxi and rental regime:
g

The Competition Council's representatives participated in three meetings of the Economic Commission,
Industries and Services of the Romanian Senate, to defend the authority's points of view with regards to:
a) the legislative proposals regarding the authorisation and the carrying out of taxi transportation;
b) the legislative proposal regarding the taxi transportation;
c) the legislative proposal for amending Law no.38/2003 regarding the transport in taxi and rental
regime.

Competition Council has intervened with regards to the following aspects:

- elimination of the limitation of the number of taxi licences by the local public administration authorities and
by the authorities of the Municipium Bucharest

Any quantitative limitation represents a barrier to entry on the market and it leads to the decreasing of the
number of services providers and to the reducing of the consumers' possibilities to choose. In a competitive
market, the number of operators should result form the action of demand and supply.

In case of taxi services, limiting of number the taxi licenses has as a main disadvantage for the consumer the
increase of tariffs and of the time one has to wait for a taxi, basic parameters of this service. Restraining
artificially the number of licenses and, implicitly, of the number of operators and taxis gives each taxi operator
the possibility to increase the tariffs without being pressured by the quantitative competition. At the same time,
the operators' incentives to improve the quality of services are considerably reduced.

- elimination of the minimum and maximum limits of the tariffs charged by taxi operators

Fixing and imposing the level of tariffs, by setting minimum and maximum limits, represents some of the most
harmful practices prohibited by competition law; they affect the competition on the market of the said services
and in the end, the customer is disadvantaged. The customer will not benefit from tariffs lower than those set
and imposed; as a consequence, his possibility to choose is eliminated. At the same time, whenever a
maximum level of tariffs is set, in practice, there is a tendency towards this limit and the tariffs are interpreted as
fixed. Thus, the market mechanisms for determining the price are eliminated.

- elimination of the mechanism through which the local public authorities and the General Council of the
Municipium Bucharest consult the professional associations representative at a local level with regards to the
setting of the maximum number of licenses.

Even in cases when these associations represent their members' interests, any consultation creates the
conditions for some exchange of information. Any such exchange of information between competing firms
may have as an effect a coordination of the market behaviour, anticompetitive practice sanctioned by Article 5
par. (1) of Competition law no.21/1996, republished.

- elimination of the time-limits for using a vehicle for taxi services

The setting of limits regarding the age of the vehicle represents a barrier to the entry on the market leading to
the restriction of competition between the taxi operators, which is contrary to the competition law.

- elimination of the conditions imposed to the providers of taxi services to work at the tariffs set by the taxi
dispatchers

91
 Practicarea de ctre toi taximetritii deservii de acelai dispecerat, a tarifelor stabilite de ctre operatorul
6

dispecer, conduce la eliminarea concurenei prin pre ntre acetia, aspect interzis de prevederile Legii
concurenei.

OUG nr.110/2005
g privind vnzarea spaiilor proprietate privat a statului sau a unitilor
administrativ-teritoriale, cu destinaia de cabinete medicale, precum i a spaiilor n care se desfoar
activiti conexe actului medical, modificat prin Legea nr.236/2005;

Art.67 din
g OUG nr.34/2006 privind atribuirea contractelor de achiziie public, a contractelor de
concesiune de lucrri publice i a contractelor de concesiune de servicii;

Ordinul
g Ministrului Agriculturii, Pdurilor i Dezvoltrii Rurale nr.657/25.09.2006 privind aprobarea
preului indicativ, preului de referin i preului de baz pentru strugurii de vin din soiuri nobile;

Art.2 alin.(1),
g coroborat cu art.6 alin.(2) din Legea nr.344/2005 privind unele msuri pentru asigurarea
respectrii drepturilor de proprietate intelectual n cadrul operaiunilor de vmuire, referitor la
importurile paralele;

Informaiile primite de la diveri ageni economici importatori au pus n eviden existena unor obstacole n
cadrul operaiunilor de vmuire, obstacole ce au legtur cu sursele de aprovizionare ale mrfurilor pe care
doresc s le introduc n ar. Fa de aceste informaii, Consiliul Concurenei a transmis Autoritii Naionale a
Vmilor punctul de vedere al autoritii de concuren cu privire la aspectele mai sus menionate.

Din punct de vedere al compatibilitii cu legislaia n domeniul concurenei, Legea nr.344/2005 privind unele
msuri pentru asigurarea respectrii drepturilor de proprietate intelectual n cadrul operaiunilor de vmuire,
este compatibil cu principiile n materie de concuren, precum i cu principiul epuizrii dreptului de
proprietate intelectual. Conform principiului epuizrii dreptului de proprietate intelectual, deintorul nu
poate invoca i exercita acest drept n legtur cu mrfurile care au fost puse n vnzare de el nsui sau cu
consimmntul su, n scopul controlrii fluxurilor comerciale din aval.

Cu toate acestea, faptul c o cerere de intervenie a autoritii vamale depus de titularul drepturilor de
proprietate intelectual asupra unei mrci solicit acestuia s furnizeze, n msura n care i sunt cunoscute,
denumirea i sediul persoanelor juridice autorizate s importe, s exporte sau s distribuie mrfurile,
conduce la situaii n care, de facto, agenii economici importatori care nu aparin canalului direct de
distribuie, creat de productorul/titularul mrcii protejate, ntmpin obstacole n momentul introducerii n
ar a produselor, mai exact n momentul vmuirii.

Astfel, simplul fapt c anumii ageni economici importatori nu se regsesc printre cei aa numii autorizai nu
constituie n sine un motiv nici pentru titularii mrcilor, de a considera c mrfurile comercializate de acetia
sunt susceptibile de a le aduce atingere drepturilor de proprietate intelectual, nici pentru autoritatea vamal,
de a accepta o cerere de intervenie naintat doar pe acest temei.

De altfel, din perspectiva aderrii la Uniunea European, operatorii economici trebuie s fie contieni c orice
interdicie asupra exporturilor sau importurilor, va fi contrar art.28 i 29 din Tratatul UE, care precizeaz c
ntre statele membre sunt interzise restriciile cantitative la import, export, precum i orice msuri cu efect
echivalent.

Proiectul
g de Lege privind sprijinul acordat investitorilor pentru construirea cminelor studeneti
private:

Intervenia Consiliului Concurenei n acest caz s-a datorat faptului c proiectul restrngea sfera investitorilor
numai la persoanele juridice private, fiind eliminate persoanele juridice de drept public. De asemenea
Consiliul Concurenei a intervenit pentru eliminarea reglementrii de ctre Ministerul Educaiei i Cercetrii a
tarifelor de cazare, acestea urmnd a fi stabilite n mod liber pe baza cererii i a ofertei. Ca i efect, stabilirea
tarifelor de cazare de ctre Ministerul Educaiei i Cercetrii conduce la eliminarea concurenei prin pre ntre
agenii economici care dein n exploatare cmine studeneti.

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If all the taxi operators using the services of same dispatcher charge tariffs set by the operator-dispatcher this

6
leads to the elimination of the price competition between them, aspect prohibited by competition law.

G.E.O. no.110/2005,
g amended by Law no. 236/2005, regarding the sale of State owner buildings,
designated for medical bureaus, as well as of buildings where activities linked to the medical act are
carried out;

Article 67
g of the G.E.O. no. 34/2006 regarding the award of the public procurement contracts, public
works concession contracts and services concession contracts;

Order of the Minister of Agriculture, Forests and Rural Development no. 657/25.09.2006 regarding the
g
approval of the indicative price, of the reference price and of the basic price for wine grapes from noble
sorts;

Article 2
g par.(1), corroborated with Article 6 par.(2) of Law no.344/2005 regarding certain measures for
ensuring the observance of intellectual property rights in the context of the custom operations, with regards
to parallel imports;

Information received from various importers have indicated some obstacles in the context of custom
operations, obstacles related to the sources of supply for goods the importers intend to introduce in the
country. Based on this information, Competition Council has submitted to the National Customs Authorities its
point of view concerning the above mentioned aspects.

From the point of view of compatibility with the competition law, Law no.344/2005 on certain measures for
ensuring the observance of intellectual property rights in the context of the custom operations is compatible
with the competition principles, as well as with the principle of exhaustion of the intellectual property right.
According to the principle of exhaustion of intellectual property right, the owner cannot invoke and exert this
right in connection with the goods marketed by himself or with his assent, in order to control the downstream
trade flows.

Nevertheless, the fact that a request for the intervention of customs authorities submitted by the owner of the
intellectual property rights concerning a trademark asks the former to provide, if known, the name and the
headquarters of legal persons authorised to import, export or distribute the goods leads to situations when,
de facto, the importing economic operators which do not belong to the direct distribution channel, created by
the owner/holder of the protected trademark, face difficulties when they introduce the product in the country,
especially at the moment of the customs operations.

Thus, the mere fact that certain importing economic operators are not among those authorised does not
constitute in itself a reason for the trademark owner to consider that the goods marketed by the former are
susceptible of affecting the intellectual property rights or for the customs authority to accept a request for
intervention based solely on this reason.

Nevertheless, in the perspective of the accession to the European Union, the economic operators must be
aware of the fact that any prohibition on exports or imports will be contrary to Articles 28 and 29 of the EC
Treaty, which provides that between the Member States any quantitative restrictions to import, export as well as
any measures having equivalent effect shall be prohibited.

Draft law regarding the support granted to investors for building of private student dormitories
g

In this case, the Competition Council's has intervened because the draft law was restricting the definition of
investors only to legal persons of private law, excluding the legal persons of public law. At the same time,
Competition Council has intervened in order to eliminate the possibility that the accommodation tariffs be set
by the Ministry of Education and Research; these tariffs should be set freely on the basis of demand and supply.
The setting of accommodation tariffs by the Ministry of Education and Research would lead to the elimination
of competition between the economic operators which administer student dormitories.

93
 Proiectul de Lege cu privire la asigurarea obligatorie a locuinelor:
g
6

n urma analizei proiectului de act normativ, autoritatea de concuren din Romnia a constatat c msurile de
sprijin instituite nu respect cerinele prevzute de legislaia n materie de ajutor de stat, pe cale de consecin
neputnd fi autorizate i acordate.

Pe de alt parte, pentru a fi compatibile, ajutoarele cu caracter social trebuie s fie acordate fr discriminare n
ceea ce privete originea serviciilor implicate, n conformitate cu art. 2 alin. (2) lit. a) din Legea nr. 143/1999
privind ajutorul de stat, republicat. n cazul de fa, subveniile prevzute de proiectul de act normativ sunt
acordate persoanelor fizice numai pentru poliele de asigurare ncheiate cu asigurtorii asociai n Poolul de
Asigurare mpotriva Dezastrelor i care sunt acreditai s ncheie astfel de contracte n condiiile legii. Prin
urmare, nu sunt ndeplinite criteriile de compatibilitate prevzute de art. 2 alin. (2) lit. a) din Legea nr.
143/1999 privind ajutorul de stat, republicat.

Observaiile Consiliului Concurenei au fost transmise Ministerului Administraiei i Internelor n vederea

compatibilizrii msurilor de sprijin cu legislaia specific n materie de concuren i ajutor de stat.

94
Draft law on the mandatory insurance for housing
g

6
After analysing the draft normative act, the Romanian competition authority found that the support measures
instituted by it do not fulfil the conditions provided for in the State aid legislation and, consequently, they
cannot be authorised and granted.

On the other hand, in order to be compatible, aids having social character must be granted without
discrimination concerning the origin of the services involved, in conformity with Article 2 par. (2) let. a) of Law
no.143/1999 on State aid, republished. In the present case, the subventions contained by the normative act
were granted to natural persons only for the insurance policies concluded with the insurance companies
associated within the Insurance Pool against Disasters and which were authorised according to law to conclude
such contracts. Consequently, the compatibility criteria provided for in Article 2 par. (2) let. a) of Law
no.143/1999 on State aid, republished, are not met.

Competition Council's observations were submitted to the Ministry of Administration and Interior in order to
make the support measures compatible with the specific legislation in the field of State aid.

95
 Capitolul IV

n planul relaiilor internaionale, eforturile depuse de autoritatea ACTIVITATEA

6

naional de concuren au condus la recunoaterea de ctre

Comisia European a progreselor nregistrate de Romnia pentru CONSILIULUI
atingerea obiectivului de aderare la data de 1 ianuarie 2007.
CONCURENEI
Demersurile ntreprinse de Romnia i, n special, de Consiliul
Concurenei s-au bucurat de sprijinul direct al Comisiei N DOMENIUL
Europene. Pe de alt parte, un rol nemijlocit l-au deinut
consultrile tehnice bilaterale ce au avut loc n permanen ntre INTEGRRII EUROPENE
reprezentanii autoritii romne de concuren i cei ai Comisiei
Europene. I AL RELAIILOR
Activitatea Consiliului Concurenei s-a reflectat n elaborarea i INTERNAIONALE
transmiterea ctre executivul european de documente specifice,
respectiv:
a) planul de msuri prioritare pentru integrare european
aferent anului 2006;
b) situaia sintetic privind activitatea de aplicare a
legislaiei (enforcement record) n materie de concuren
i de ajutor de stat;
c) planul de monitorizare pe concuren i ajutor de stat
(Action Plan);
d) statistici ale deciziilor emise.

ncepnd cu anul 2006, Consiliul Concurenei beneficiaz de un

nou Proiect de Twinnig Atingerea la data aderrii a unei capaciti
administrative i de aplicare a acquis-ului comunitar n domeniul
concurenei i ajutorului de stat corespunztoare unui Stat
Membru care este derulat mpreun cu partenerii din cadrul
Autoritii de Concuren din Italia (AGCM), pe probleme de
concuren, i Departamentului pentru Industrie i Comer (DTI)
din Marea Britanie, pe probleme de ajutor de stat.

Proiectul de Twinning: obiective, aciuni i rezultate

Proiectul de Twinning reprezint unul dintre principalele

instrumente prin care rezultatele obinute de Consiliului
Concurenei n anii precedeni sunt susinute n continuare.

Obiectivele Proiectului sunt:

= mbuntirea cadrului legislativ;
= perfecionarea profesional a experilor Consiliului
Concurenei;
= promovarea culturii concurenei.

Aciunile Programului de Twinning se deruleaza n perioada

octombrie 2006 - noiembrie 2007 i constau, n principal, n:
a) acordarea de asisten experilor din domeniul
concurenei i ajutorului de stat;
b) seminarii la nivel local cu participani ai administraiilor
locale, mediului de afaceri i judectori;
c) prelegeri i mese rotunde privind ultimele evoluii din
domeniul concurenei i ajutorului de stat pentru
magistrai, furnizori de ajutor de stat, autoriti de
reglementare, mediul academic i universitar;
d) conferine adresate att instituiilor interesate ct i
publicului larg pentru asigurarea unei promovri a
culturii concurenei i ajutorului de stat.

96
 Chapter IV

ACTIVITY OF THE In the field of international relations, the efforts of the Romanian

6
competition authority resulted in the recognition by the European
COMPETITION Commission of the progresses registered by Romania in attaining
the accession objective on the 1st of January 2007.
COUNCIL
The actions undertaken by Romania, and especially by the
IN THE AREA Competition Council, received the direct support of the European
Commission. On the other hand, an important role was played by
OF EU INTEGRATION the bilateral technical consultations carried out constantly between
the representatives of the Romanian competition authority and of
AND EXTERNAL the European Commission.

RELATIONS The Competition Council's activity was reflected in the elaboration

of specific documents which were submitted to the European
executive body, as follows:
a) 2006 Priority Measures Plan for European Integration;
b) Synthetic reports on legislation enforcement (enforcement
record) in the field of competition and State aid;
c) Monitoring Plan on competition and State aid (Action
Plan);
d) Statistics regarding the issued decisions.

Starting with 2006, the Competition Council beneficiates from a

new Twining Project Advancing the administrative capacity and
application of the acquis in the competition and State aid area,
coherent with the Member State status at the date of accession
which is being carried out together with partners from the Italian
Competition Authority (AGCM), on competition issues, and from
the United Kingdom's Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), on
State aid issues.

The Twining Project: objectives, actions and results

The Twinning Project is one of the main instruments sustaining the

results achieved by the Competition Council in the previous years.

The Project's objectives are:

= improving the legislative framework;
= professional training of the Competition Council's experts;
= competition advocacy.

The actions of the Twinning Project are being carried out during
October 2006 - November 2007 and are mainly represented by:
a) granting assistance to the experts on competition and State
aid;
b) seminars at the local level attended by representatives of the
local administrations, of the business and juridical
environments;
c) lectures and round tables on competition and State aid
intended for magistrates, State aid grantors, regulatory
authorities, the academic and university environment;
d) conferences organized for the interested institutions, as well
as for the general public in order to promote the
competition and State aid culture.

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 4.1. Consiliul Concurenei - observator la procesul decizional comunitar
6

Cooperarea Consiliului Concurenei cu Comisia European, n cadrul Reelei Europene a Concurenei (ECN)
cu organismele internaionale cu preocupri n domeniul concurenei, cu autoritile de concuren din statele
membre sau alte state europene, a dobndit o dimensiune din ce n ce mai important n activitatea de
ansamblu a Consiliului Concurenei.

n anul 2006, reprezentanii Consiliului Concurenei au continuat s participe la reuniunile organizate n

cadrul ECN pentru a se familiariza cu modul de lucru i cooperarea n cadrul reelei, principalele teme
abordate fiind:

a) stabilirea procedurii scrise de consultare n cadrul Comitetului Consultativ privind practicile restrictive
i abuzul de poziie dominant;
b) analiza Crii Verzi privind conflictele dintre jurisdicii i aplicarea principiului ne bis in idem (evitarea
dublei sancionri);
c) proiectul Modelui de Program de clemen ECN;
d) sectorul energetic i cazuri specifice de concuren;
e) revizuirea aplicrii art. 82 din Tratatul CE, revizuirea regulilor de concuren din sectorul maritim,
aplicarea regulilor de concuren n domeniul profesiilor liberale;
f) schimburile de informaii att n interiorul reelei, ct i cu rile AELS (Asociaia European a Liberului
Schimb);
g) aciuni n despgubire n cazurile de nclcare a regulilor de concuren;
h) proiectul de instruciuni privind concentrrile economice non-orizontale.

De asemenea, Consiliul Concurenei a prezentat poziia sa fa de urmtoarele proiecte de regulamente din

domeniul ajutorului de stat, elaborate de Comisia European:
= regulament privind ajutorul de minimis;
= regulamentul privind nivelul ratei dobnzii;
= regulamentul privind exceptarea n bloc a ajutorului regional de investiii;
= modificarea Regulamentului CE nr. 994/98 privind aplicarea art. 92 i 93 din Tratatul instituind
Comunitatea European anumitor categorii de ajutor de stat orizontal;
= Cadrul Comunitar pentru ajutorul de stat pentru cercetare dezvoltare i inovare.

4.2. Relaii multilaterale

n cadrul relaiilor multilaterale, Consiliul Concurenei a participat la evenimente organizate de Organizaia

de Cooperare i Dezvoltare Economic (OCDE), Reeaua Internaional a Concurenei (ICN), Conferina
Naiunilor Unite pentru Comer i Dezvoltare (UNCTAD).

Dintre tematicile reuniunilor OCDE....

a) concesionarea serviciilor de infrastructur;
b) aplicarea privat a legislaiei n domeniul concurenei;
c) combaterea cartelurilor;
d) concurena i protecia mediului nconjurtor;
e) abuzul de poziie dominant;
f) concurena n sectorul bancar;
g) brevete de invenie i inovare;
h) concurena pe pieele de licitaii, etc.

Dintre tematicile reuniunilor ICN.....

a) aspecte privind cartelurile, fuziunile, telecomunicaiile;
b) ntrirea cooperrii ntre autoritile membre ICN, n scopul maximizrii participrii acestora
la activitile grupurilor de lucru ale ICN, etc.
Dintre tematicile reuniunilor UNCTAD.....
a) practici anticoncureniale;
b) rolul cooperrii internaionale n investigarea i sancionarea practicilor anticoncureniale;
c) relaia dintre politica concurenei i subvenii;
d) evaluarea stadiului de aplicare a mecanismului de soluionare a disputelor legate de problemele de
concuren n cadrul Acordurilor Comerciale Regionale, etc.

98
4.1. The Competition Council - observer within the Community decisional process

6
An increasing role within the Competition Council's activity was plaid by the cooperation with the European
Commission within the European Competition Network (ECN), as well as with the international bodies
involved in the competition field and the national European competition authorities from or outside the
European Union.

In 2006, the Competition Council's representatives continued to attend ECN reunions in order to get
familiarized with the network's functioning and cooperation procedures. The main issues discussed were:

a) the establishment of the written consultative procedure within the Consultative Committee on Restrictive
Practices and Dominant Position;
b) the analysis of the Green Paper on Conflicts of Jurisdictions and the Principle ne bis in idem in Criminal
Proceedings (avoiding double prosecution);
c) the draft ECN Model Leniency Programme;
d) the energy sector and specific competition cases;
e) the review of the application of art.82 of the EC Treaty, the review of the competition rules in the maritime
sector, the implementation of competition rules in the field of professional services;
f) the information exchanges within the network, as well as with the EFTA (European Free Trade Association)
countries;
g) damages actions for breach of competition rules;
h) the draft Non-horizontal Merger Guidelines.

Also, the Competition Council presented its position on the following draft State aid regulations elaborated by
the European Commission:
= Regulation on the de minimis aid;
= Regulation on the interest rate setting;
= Block exemption regulation for investment regional aid;
= Amendment of EC Regulation no.994/98 on the application of articles 92 and 93 of the EC Treaty to
certain categories of horizontal State aid;
= Community framework on State aid for research-development and innovation.

4.2. Multilateral relations

In this area, the Competition Council attended several certain events organised by the Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the International Competition Network (ICN) and the
United Nation Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Among the issues considered within the OECD reunions....

a) infrastructure services concessioning;
b) private enforcement of the competition legislation;
c) the fight against cartels;
d) competition and environment protection;
e) the abuse of a dominant position;
f) competition in the banking sector;
g) invention and innovation patents;
h) competition on biding markets, etc.

Among the issues considered within the ICN reunions.....

a) issues on cartels, mergers, telecommunications;
b) strengthening the cooperation between the ICN member authorities, in order to maximize theirs
participation within ICN working groups etc.

Among the issues considered within the UNCTAD reunions.....

a) anticompetitive practices;
b) the role of international cooperation in investigating and sanctioning anticompetitive practices;
c) relation between competition policy and subsidies;
d) assessing the application of the Dispute Resolution Mechanism in respect to the competition issues
within the Regional Trading Agreements, etc.

99
 La aceste evenimente, Consiliul Concurenei a participat att prin contribuii scrise i studii de caz, ct i prin
6

intervenii verbale n cadrul dezbaterilor, dup cum urmeaz:

Forumul Global al Concurenei (Paris, februarie 2006):

contribuie scris i intervenie verbal la masa rotund privind concesiunile;
=
contribuie
= scris i intervenie verbal la masa rotund privind instrumentarea cazurilor de cartel n lipsa
unor dovezi directe;
prezentarea unui studiu de caz - cartelul pe piaa cimentului.
=

Seminarul Centrului Regional de Concuren Budapesta cu tema Combaterea cartelurilor(aprilie

2006):
= prezentarea unui studiu de caz - cartelul pe piaa cimentului.

Reuniunile Comitetului pentru Concuren OCDE (Paris, iunie 2006):

contribuie
= scris i intervenie verbal la masa rotund privind remedii i sanciuni n cazurile de abuz de
poziie dominant;
= contribuie scris i intervenie verbal la masa rotund privind tehnici de investigare pentru dovedirea
dominanei;
= prezentarea raportului de activitate al Consiliului Concurenei pentru anul 2005.

Reuniunile Comitetului pentru Concuren OCDE (Paris, octombrie 2006):

contribuie
= scris i intervenie verbal la masa rotund pe tema Modaliti de obinere de dovezi
relevante;
= contribuie scris i intervenie verbal la masa rotund pe tema Probleme de concuren pe pieele de
licitaii.

Seminarul Centrului Regional de Concuren Budapesta cu tema Interfaa ntre politica de concuren i
reglementarea sectorial (decembrie 2006):
= prezentarea cu tema Cooperare ntre Consiliul Concurenei i Autoritatea Naional de Reglementare n
domeniul Gazelor Naturale.

Accesul Consiliului Concurenei la lucrrile Comitetului de Concuren al OCDE, n calitatea recent dobndit
de observator, precum i implicarea activ n activitile ce se deruleaz sub egida ICN i UNCTAD, au
contribuit la perfecionarea continu a experilor n domeniul concurenei i a favorizat cunoaterea celor mai
noi evoluii la nivel internaional.

4.3. Relaii bilaterale

Pe lng contactul permanent cu Comisia European, autoritatea de concuren din Romnia a dezvoltat i
intensificat relaii de cooperare cu autoriti similare din ri membre ale Uniunii Europene i nu numai.
n baza protocoalelor/acordurilor de cooperare cu autoritile de concuren din Frana, Ungaria, Portugalia,
Italia, Slovacia, Croaia, Turcia, Bulgaria i Coreea de Sud i a bunelor contacte dezvoltate cu autoritile de
concuren din Marea Britanie, Germania, Finlanda, Suedia i Olanda, au fost organizate o serie de ntlniri la
nivel de experi, stagii de pregtire i seminarii, n scopul perfecionrii continue a experilor Consiliului
Concurenei i a pregtirii pentru rolul de autoritate european de concuren.

Protocoale de cooperare ncheiate n anul 2006 cu.....

a) Autoritatea de concuren din Slovacia: la data de 8 februarie 2006, a fost ncheiat protocolul de
colaborare dintre Consiliul Concurenei i autoritatea de concuren din Slovacia. Protocolul, semnat de
preedinii celor dou autoriti, domnul Mihai Berinde i, respectiv, doamna Danika Paraulkova, asigur
cadrul general pentru schimbul de experien dintre experii romni i slovaci, ca baz a colaborrii
ulterioare n cadrul Reelei Europene de Concuren;

b) Comisia de Protecie a Concurenei din Bulgaria: la data de 15 martie 2006 a fost semnat Memorandumul
de cooperare dintre Consiliul Concurenei, reprezentat de domnul Mihai Berinde, preedintele autoritii
romne de concuren i domnul Petko Nikolov, preedintele Comisiei de Protecie a Concurenei din
Bulgaria. Obiectivele Memorandumului constau n: realizarea de consultri periodice la nivel de conducere
i experi; intensificarea schimbului de experien; promovarea schimbului de informaii i furnizarea unor
materiale documentare cu relevan n dreptul naional i comunitar al concurenei; susinerea reciproc i
promovarea aciunilor privind cultura concurenei la nivel european i internaional.

100
The Competition Council involved in these events by submitting written contributions and case studies, as well

6
as by making verbal interventions within the debates, as follows:

Competition Global Forum (Paris, February 2006):

written contribution and verbal intervention within the round table on concessions;
=
written
= contribution and verbal intervention within the round table on solving cartel cases when no direct
evidences are available;
= presentation of a case study - cartel on the cement market.

Seminar on Fighting cartels organized by Budapest Regional Competition Center (April 2006):
presentation of a case study - cartel on the cement market.
=

Reunions of the OECD Competition Committee (Paris, June 2006):

written
= contribution and verbal intervention within the round table on remedies and sanctions in cases of
abuses of dominant position;
= written contribution and verbal intervention within the round table on dominance investigative techniques;
= presentation of the Annual Report of the Competition Council's activity for 2005.

Reunions of the OECD Competition Committee (Paris, October 2006):

written contribution and verbal intervention within the round table on Evidentiary issues in merger review;
=
written
= contribution and verbal intervention within the round table on Competition issues on biding
markets.

Seminar of the Budapest Regional Competition Center on The interface between the competition policy
and the sectoral regulation in telecommunications (December 2006):
= presentation on The Cooperation between the Competition Council and the National Regulatory Authority
in the field of Natural Gases.

Based on its recently status as Observer, the Competition Council attended the OECD works. At the same time,
it was involved actively within the works of ICN and UNCTAD. These activities contributed to the continuing
training of the experts on competition and supported their familiarization with the latest international
evolutions in the filed.

4.3. Bilateral relations

Alongside the permanent dialogue with the European Commission, the Romanian competition authority
developed and intensified cooperation relations with similar authorities from EU Member States and from
other countries. Based on the memoranda of understanding/cooperation protocols concluded with the
competition authorities from France, Hungary, Portugal, Italy, Slovakia, Croatia, Turkey, Bulgaria and South
Korea and in the light of the good relations developed with the competition authorities from the United
Kingdom, Germany, Finland, Sweden and Netherlands, a series of meetings, seminars and training internships
were organized for the experts of the authorities, aiming at the permanent training of the Competition
Council's inspectors and at preparing for the status of European competition authority.

Memoranda of Understanding concluded in 2006 with.....

a) Slovakian Competition Authority: on 8 February 2006 a Memorandum of Understanding was concluded

between the Competition Council and the Slovakian Competition Authority. The memorandum signed by
the presidents of the two authorities, Mr. Mihai Berinde and Mrs. Danika, provides the general framework
for exchanging experience between the Romanian and Slovakian experts, and it constitutes the base of the
future collaboration within the European Competition Network;

b) Bulgarian Commission on Protection of Competition: on 15 March 2006 a Memorandum of

Understanding was signed by the Competition Council, represented by Mr. Mihai Berinde - the President of
the Romanian competition authority and by Mr. Petko Nikolov - the President of the Bulgarian Commission
on Protection of Competition. The objectives of the memorandum are: regular consultations between the
authorities' boards as well as between experts; intensification of the experience exchange; promoting the
information exchange and providing relevant documents on national and Community law; mutual support
and competition advocacy actions at European and international level.

101
 n domeniul ajutorului de stat, n cadrul cooperrii bilaterale cu Bulgaria i Finlanda au avut loc ntlniri ale
6

experilor n cadrul crora au fost discutate exemple concrete de scheme de ajutor de stat, practica n ceea ce
privete msurile de ajutor de stat pentru dezvoltare regional, dezvoltarea resurselor umane.

n anul 2006, activitatea Consiliului Concurenei n planul relaiilor internaionale s-a concretizat, de
asemenea, ntr-o serie de vizite de lucru pe problematici specifice domeniului concurenei i ajutorului de stat,
precum i n misiunile de evaluare efectuate de Comisia European.

Dintre cele mai importante ntlniri bilaterale, vizite de lucru i discuii tehnice purtate cu oficialii
europeni n anul 2006.

Vizita oficial
= a unei delegaii a Consiliul Concurenei la Helsinki, unde s-au purtat discuii referitoare la
posibilitile de dezvoltare a cooperrii bilaterale n contextul aderrii Romniei la UE;
Vizit de lucru la Zagreb, la invitaia Ageniei de Concuren din Croaia; vizita a urmrit intarirea cooperrii
=
bilaterale romno-croate n domeniul concurenei, stabilirea modalitilor concrete de cooperare, ct i
prezentarea progreselor nregistrate de cele dou ri n implementarea i promovarea politicii de
concuren;
La invitaia domnului Mihai Berinde, preedinte al Consiliului Concurenei, domnul Zoltan Nagy,
=
preedintele Autoritii de Concuren din Ungaria, a efectuat o vizit de lucru n Romnia. Cu aceast
ocazie au fost dezbtute ultimele progrese nregistrate de cele dou autoriti de concuren n aplicarea
regulilor specifice de concuren, precum i probleme de actualitate referitoare la implicarea autoritilor
naionale n Reeaua European de Concuren;
n luna martie a anului 2006, la sediul Consiliului Concurenei a avut loc misiunea de evaluare a Comisiei
=
Europene, reprezentat de domnii Koen Van de Casteele i Ansgar Held, responsabili pentru Romnia n
cadrul DG Competition. Vizita a urmrit obinerea de informaii n vederea redactrii variantei finale a
Raportul de monitorizare din luna mai 2006.

n cadrul ntlnirii au fost prezentate aspecte relevante din activitatea desfurat de Consiliul Concurenei n
domeniile concuren, ajutor de stat, promovarea culturii concurenei, aspecte legate de capacitatea
administrativ, precum i Politica n domeniul ajutoarelor de stat 2006-2013, elaborat de Guvernul Romniei
cu sprijinul Consiliului Concurenei.

Totodat a avut loc i o sesiune de dezbateri privind cazuri de ajutor de stat aflate n lucru la Consiliul
Concurenei, cu participarea reprezentanilor autoritilor funizoare: Ministerul Finanelor Publice, Ministerul
Economiei i Comerului, Autoritatea pentru Valorificarea Activelor Statului.

Vizite de
= lucru ale experilor finlandezi n domeniul concurenei i ajutorului de stat. Aceste vizite s-au
nscris pe linia aciunilor concrete de cooperare bilateral romno-finlandeze, care vizeaz consolidarea
aplicrii legislaiei n materie de concuren, precum i perfecionarea profesional a inspectorilor de
concuren;
Discuii tehnice cu reprezentani ai Comisiei Europene;
=
Stagiu de pregtire profesional a experilor Consiliului Concurenei la Autoritatea de Concuren din
=
Ungaria, viznd discutarea regulilor de funcionare a ECN, de aplicare a Regulamentului 1/2003, precum i
cunoaterea experienei n desfurarea de inspecii inopinate, dificulti ntmpinate i ci de rezolvare;
Vizit de lucru la sediul Autoritii de Concuren din Bulgaria unde au fost abordate subiecte referitoare la
=
msurile de ajutor de stat pentru dezvoltare regional i dezvoltarea resurselor umane;
Participri la Reuniunea Grupului ECN n domeniul concentrrilor economice si Comitetul Consultativ
=
privind practicile restrictive i abuzul de poziie dominant;
Participri la conferine internaionale, ale cror subiecte de interes s-au referit la aspecte specifice
=
activitii de concuren i de implementare a legislaiei;
Vizita delegaiei Direciei Generale de Concuren a Comisiei Europene din luna noiembrie 2006, n cadrul
=
creia au fost prezentate prioritile Consiliului Concurenei pentru perioada urmtoare, respectiv:
funcionarea autoritii dup 1 ianuarie 2007, cooperarea ntre autoritatea romn de concuren i DG
Competition, modalitatea de exercitare a noilor atribuii n domeniul ajutorului de stat, precum i statutul
de membru al ECN; cu aceast ocazie, a avut loc la Braov o ntlnire de lucru ntre reprezentanii Comisiei
Europene i reprezentanii inspectoratelor teritoriale de concuren, pentru a dezbate atribuiile ce le revin
acestora din urm dupa 1 ianuarie 2007;

102
Within the bilateral cooperation with Bulgaria and Finland, State aid working meetings were organized

6
between experts. The debated issues were related to existing State aid schemes and the State aid practice
concerning aids for regional development and for human resources development.

In 2006, the Competition Council's activity in the field of international relations was also concretized in a series
of working visits on specific State aid and competition issues, as well as in the evaluation missions carried out by
the European Union.

Among the most important bilateral meetings, working visits and technical discussions carried out with
European officials in 2006.

The official
= visit of a Competition Council delegation in Helsinki, which was focused on debating the
opportunities for developing a bilateral cooperation in the context of Romania's EU accession;
The working visit in Zagreb, following the invitation of the Croatian Competition Agency; the visit aimed at
=
strengthening the Romanian-Croatian bilateral cooperation in the field of competition, at establishing
concrete cooperation manners, as well as at presenting the progresses registered by the two countries in
implementing and promoting competition policy;
Following the invitation of Mr. Mihai Berinde, the President of the Competition Council, Mr. Zoltan Nagy,
=
the President of the Hungarian Competition Authority, carried out a working visit in Romania. The main
debated issues were related to the progresses registered by the two authorities in applying the specific
competition rules, as well to certain issues of interest regarding the involvement of the national competition
authorities within the European Competition Network;
In March 2006, the European Commission's evaluation mission was carried at the headquarters of the
=
Competition Council. The European delegation was formed by Mr. Koen Van de Casteele and Mr. Ansgar
Held, officials within DG Competition in charge with Romania. The visit aimed at obtaining information
necessary for elaborating the final version of the Country Monitoring Report of May 2006.

The meeting was an opportunity to discuss relevant aspects of the Competition Council's activity on
competition and State aid, certain issues related to the fields of competition advocacy, administrative capacity,
as well as the State aid Policy for the period 2006-2013. This document was elaborated by the Romanian
Government with the support of the Competition Council.

In addition, a series of debates was organized highlighting certain State aid cases instrumented by the
Competition Council. The debates were attended by representatives of the State aid granting authorities: the
Ministry of Public Finances, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, the Authority for State Assets Recovery.

Working
= visits of the Finnish experts in the field of competition and State aid; these visits were part of the
concrete bilateral cooperation actions between Romania and Finland, aiming at consolidating and
improving the training level of the competition inspectors;
Technical discussions with the representatives of the European Commission;
=
Training internship of the Competition Council's experts at the Hungarian Competition Authority; this was
=
an opportunity for the Romanian experts to debate on the ECN functioning rules in respect to the
application of Regulation no. 1/2003, and to become accustomed with the Hungarian experience in dawn
raids - issues encountered and remedy manners;
Working visit at the headquarters of the Bulgarian Competition Authority, focused on discussing certain
=
State aid measures for regional development and for human resources development;
Attending the ECN reunions of the Working Group on Mergers and of the Consultative Committee on
=
Restrictive Practices and Abuse of Dominant Position;
Attending international conferences on issues of interest related to the specific activity in the field of
=
competition and the implementation of the legislation;
The visit of the DG Competition delegation from the European Commission, carried out in November
=
2006. The presentations were related to the future priorities of the Competition Council, as follows: the
functioning of the authority after the 1st of January 2007, the cooperation between the Romanian
competition authority and DG Competition, the manner of exercising the new attributions in the field of
State aid, as well as the status of ECN member. In addition, a working meeting was organized in Braov in
order to discuss the new attributions of inspectorates after the 1st of January 2007. It was attended by the
representatives of the European Commission and by inspectors within the Territorial Competition
Inspectorates;

103
 Vizit oficial
= de lucru la autoritatea de concuren din Turcia: obiectivul principal al vizitei l-a constituit
6

intensificarea cooperrii bilaterale romno-turce n domeniul concurenei.

n cadrul convorbirilor bilaterale au fost discutate aspecte privind:

a) progrese recente nregistrate n implementarea i promovarea regulilor de concuren;
b) tehnici de colectare a informaiilor n investigarea cartelurilor;
c) utilizarea analizei economice n aplicarea regulilor antitrust;
d) cooperarea dintre autoritatea de concuren i autoritile de reglementare;
e) cazuri relevante din domeniul antitrust.

104
Official working
= visit at the Turkish Competition Authority: the main purpose was to intensify the bilateral

6
cooperation between Romania and Turkey in the field of competition.

The bilateral discussions approached the following issues:

a) Recently registered progresses in implementing and promoting the competition rules;
b) Information collecting techniques in investigating cartels;
c) The use of the economic analysis in enforcing the antitrust rules;
d) The cooperation between the competition authority and the regulatory authorities;
e) Relevant antitrust cases.

105
 Capitolul V

5.1. Activitatea de promovare a culturii PROMOVAREA

6

concurenei reflectat la nivel central i teritorial

Una dintre prioritile Consiliului Concurenei n anul 2006 a fost

CULTURII
reprezentat de promovarea culturii concurenei, care urmrete CONCURENEI
cunoaterea i respectarea regulilor de concuren i ajutor de
stat de ctre toi actorii vieii economice.

n acest sens, Consiliul Concurenei, prin intermediul aparatului

central i teritorial, a organizat numeroase seminarii, conferine,
mese rotunde pe teme de actualitate viznd problematica
concurenei i ajutorului de stat. De asemenea, un loc important
l-a deinut participarea la trguri i expoziii, precum i publicarea
i diseminarea de materiale.

n acelai timp, autoritatea de concuren a intensificat aciunile

orientate ctre grupuri-int: autoritile publice, reprezentanii
mediului judectoresc, agenii economici din anumite sectoare,
mass-media.

Aciunile de promovare a culturii concurenei au nregistrat n

anul 2006 o majorare semnificativ, comparativ cu perioada
2004-2005, respectiv o cretere de cca.4 ori fa de anul 2005 i
de peste 19 ori fa de anul 2004 (Graficul nr.9).

817
900

800

700

600
(num a r )

500

400
235
300

200
39
100

0
2004 2005 2006

Actiuni de promovare

n cadrul aciunilor de promovare, locul central a fost deinut de

organizarea de seminarii, conferine, mese rotunde, a cror
pondere s-a situat la 66,3% din totalul aciunilor (Tabelul nr.17).
Totodat, n aceast perioad o atenie deosebit a fost acordat
magistrailor prin organizarea de mese rotunde cu judectorii i
procurorii de la Curtea de Apel Bucureti i nalta Curte de
Casaie i Justiie, instane competente n materie de concuren
i ajutor de stat.

106
 Chapter V

COMPETITION 5.1. The activity on competition advocacy reflected

6
at central and local level
ADVOCACY
The competition advocacy was one of the Competition Council's
priorities in 2006 and it envisaged the awareness of the participants
to the economic life on the competition and State aid rules, thus
contributing to their observance.

In this respect, using its central and territorial apparatus, the

Competition Council organized numerous seminars, conferences,
round tables on issues of interest in the field of competition and
State aid. Am important role was also played by attending fairs and
exhibitions, as well as by the publication and dissemination of
written materials.

At the same time, the competition authority intensified its actions

focused on certain target groups: the public authorities,
representatives of the legal environment, undertakings from
certain sectors, mass-media.

In 2006, the actions on competition advocacy registered a

significant increase compared to the 2004-2005 period,
respectively a raise of approx. 4 times compared to 2005 and of
over 19 times compared to 2004 (Graph no.9).

817
900

800

700

600
(no.)

500

400
235
300

200
39
100

0
2004 2005 2006

Advocacy actions

The central role within the advocacy actions was played by the
organization of seminars, conferences, round tables, accounting
for 66,3% of the total actions (Table no.17). At the same time, a
special attention was paid to magistrates by organizing round
tables attended by judges and public prosecutors from the
Bucharest Court of Appeal and the High Court of Cassation and
Justice - competent legal instances in the field of competition and
State aid.

107
6

Promovarea culturii concurenei a nsemnat pentru autoritatea de concuren i organizarea unui stagiu de
pregtire pentru auditori de justiie din cadrul Institutului Naional al Magistraturii (INM) (viitori
judectori/procurori), n cadrul cruia a fost prezentat legislaia n domeniul concurenei i a ajutorului de stat,
precum i practica judectoreasc n domeniu. Un nou stagiu se afl n pregtire, la solicitarea INM, urmnd s
se desfoare n perioada februarie martie 2007.

Un loc aparte n cadrul aciunilor de promovare a fost deinut de activitile desfurate n cadrul protocoalelor
de colaborare ncheiate de Consiliul Concurenei cu diferite autoriti de reglementare (12,5%) precum i
editarea de materiale informative cu privire la regulile de concuren i ajutor de stat (9,5%). De asemenea,
activitile de colaborare cu mass-media au fost intensificate, ponderea acestora n totalul aciunilor ridicndu-
se la 8,3%.

Anul 2006 a nsemnat, totodat, i intensificarea activitii de promovare desfurate de Consiliul Concurenei
prin intermediul inspectoratelor teritoriale. n acest sens, n cursul anului 2006 au fost desfurate un numr de
1.654 de aciuni de promovare a culturii concurenei la nivel teritorial, organizate sub forma seminariilor,
meselor rotunde, ntlnirilor de lucru (Tabelul nr.18).

n cadrul aciunilor de promovare a culturii concurenei la nivel teritorial, locul central este ocupat de
publicarea de articole pe teme de concuren i ajutor de stat n publicaii locale (41,8%), n timp ce
organizarea de mese rotunde deine o pondere de 14,8% (Graficul nr.10).

13,5% 8,3%
14,8%
4,8%

9,4%
7,4%
41,8%

Seminarii Mese rotunde

Participari la manifestari de specialitate Articole n presa locala
Interviuri radio Interviuri TV
Alte tipuri de actiuni

108
 6
The Competition Council's activity on competition advocacy also included the organization of a train ship for
justice auditors within the National Institute of Magistracy (INM) (the future judges/public prosecutors). It was
focused on presenting the competition and State aid legislation, as well as the legal experience in the field.

A special role within the advocacy actions was played by the activities carried out within the collaboration
protocols concluded by the Competition Council with various regulatory authorities (12.5%), as well as the
publication of informative materials on competition and State aid (9.5%). The collaboration with the mass-
media was intensified, their share in the total actions rising at 8.3%.

At the same time, 2006 registered an intensification of the advocacy activity carried by the Competition
Council through its Territorial Competition Inspectorates. In this respect, during 2006, 1,654 advocacy actions
were organized at the local level - seminars, round tables, working meetings (Table no.18).

The publication in the local magazines of articles on State aid and competition played the central role within
the actions on competition advocacy (41.8%), while the organizing of round tables had a share of 14.8%
(Graph no.10).

13,5% 8,3%
14,8%
4,8%

9,4%
7,4%
41,8%

Seminars Radio interviews

Articles in the local press Participations at specific events
Other types of actions TV interviews
Round tables

109
 Informaii relevante legate de activitatea Consiliului Concurenei, precum i despre noutile n domeniul
6

concurenei i ajutorului de stat, au fost diseminate la nivel teritorial prin acordarea de ctre inspectorii de
concuren a unui numr de 203 interviuri la posturile locale de radio i televiziune.

n vederea contientizrii de ctre mediul de afaceri i factorii de decizie de la nivel local a importanei
respectrii regulilor de concuren i a familiarizrii acestora cu legislaia romneasc n domeniul concurenei
i al ajutorului de stat, inspectoratele teritoriale au organizat un numr de 292 de seminarii i ntlniri de lucru.

n acest fel, s-a asigurat dialogul direct i permanent cu instituiile publice locale, asociaiile profesionale,
agenii economici, consultana de specialitate oferit avnd drept scop clarificarea unor probleme specifice
domeniului concurenei i ajutorului de stat, precum i promovarea noilor reguli derivate din aderarea la
Uniunea European.

5.2. Publicaii i materiale informative ale

Consiliului Concurenei parte integrant a promovrii culturii concurenei

Activitatea Consiliului Concurenei s-a concretizat n anul 2006 n editarea unei serii de ghiduri privind regulile
de concuren i ajutor de stat, elaborarea de buletine lunare, tiri comunitare, precum i a revistei Profil:
Concurena.

La acestea se adaug publicarea Raportului anual al Consiliului Concurenei (pe anul 2005) i a sintezei
acestuia.

Ghiduri privind regulile de concuren i ajutor de stat editate de Consiliul Concurenei n anul 2006...

a) Ghidul beneficiarului de ajutor de stat n zona defavorizat cuprinde, de o manier sintetic,

principalele reguli aplicabile ajutoarelor de stat ce pot fi acordate beneficiarilor din zonele defavorizate,
condiiile ce trebuie ndeplinite, obligaiile ce revin beneficiarilor etc.

b) Ghidul privind ntocmirea schemelor de ajutor de stat prezint principalele elemente ce trebuie avute
n vedere de autoritile care elaboreaz proiecte de finanare, innd cont de faptul c accesul mediului de
afaceri la sprijin financiar din partea statului va depinde, n mare msur, de capacitatea autoritilor publice
de a ntocmi i derula proiecte de finanare deplin compatibile cu regulile de ajutor de stat.

c) Ghidul pentru autoritile publice locale privind ajutorul de stat prezint cele mai importante aspecte
din materia ajutorului de stat (principalele reguli, obligaiile autoritilor furnizoare etc.). Acesta se adreseaz
cu predilecie autoritilor locale, care sunt principalii furnizori de sprijin financiar din surse publice pentru
mediul de afaceri local.

d) Ghidul privind transparena financiar oglinda banului public reflect principalele reguli privind
transparena relaiilor financiare ntre autoritile publice i ntreprinderile publice, precum i transparena
financiar n cadrul anumitor ntreprinderi.

e) Ghidul privind evaluarea modalitilor de sprijin n domeniul culturii i patrimoniului naional din
perspectiva compatibilitii cu legislaia ajutorului de stat

f) Ghidul privind finanarea sistemului de nvmnt din Romnia, comparativ cu unele state membre
ale U. E., din perspectiva legislaiei ajutorului de stat

g) Competenele instanelor naionale n domeniul concurenei dup aderarea Romniei la Uniunea

European: acest ghid se adreseaz instanelor judectoreti naionale, care, dup aderare, vor avea
competena de a aplica direct regulile comunitare din domeniul concurenei.

h) Eti afectat de o practic anticoncurenial interzis de Legea concurenei? Ai dreptul s te plngi

Ghidul se adreseaz persoanelor care se consider afectate de o practic anticoncurenial i prezint
principalele mijloacele prin care acestea se pot adresa autoritii de concuren.

i) Accesul la dosarele instrumentate de Consiliul Concurenei:

Ghidul conine informatii referitoare la mijloacele prin care persoanele interesate i pot valorifica dreptul de
aprare, prin accesarea dosarelor instrumentate de Consiliul Concurenei.

110
The 203 interviews granted for the local radio and TV stations by competition inspectors represented a good

6
manner for disseminating at the territorial level relevant information regarding the Competition Council's
activity, as well as concerning the field of competition and State aid.

The territorial inspectorates organized 292 seminars and working meetings in order to raise the awareness of
the business environment and of the local decedents in respect to the importance of observing the competition
rules and to facilitate theirs familiarization with the Romanian legislation on competition and State aid.

This was the manner for providing a direct and permanent dialogue with the public authorities from the local
level and with the professional associations and undertakings. The consultancy aimed at clarifying specific
issues on competition and State aid, as well as at promoting the new rules resulted from the EU accession.

5.2. Publications and informative materials elaborated by

the Competition Council part of the competition advocacy

In 2006, the Competition Council's activity concretized in the publication of a series of informative guides
regarding the competition and State aid rules, monthly bulletins, Community news, as well as of the magazine
Profile: Competition.

In addition, the 2005 Annual Report of the Competition Council was published together with its synthesis.

Information guides regarding the rules on competition and State aid published by the Competition
Council in 2006...

a) Information Guide of the State Aid Beneficiary in the Deprived Area comprises, in a synthetic manner,
the main rules applicable to the State aids which can be granted to the beneficiaries activating in the deprived
areas, the conditions that must be observed, the obligations of the beneficiaries etc.

b) Information Guide on Drafting State Aid Schemes by The State Aid Initiators from Romania presents the
main elements which must be considered by the authorities elaborating financing projects, taking into
consideration that the access to the State's financial support will depend, in a large extend, upon the capacity
of the public authorities to draft and implement financing projects fully compatible with the State aid rules.

c) Guide regarding the Assessment of the Support Methods in the Culture and National Heritage Field
from the Perspective of Compatibility with State Aid Legislation presents the most important aspects of the
State aid field (the main rules, the obligations of the authorities granting State aids etc.). The guide is mostly
intended for the local authorities, which are the main providers of financial support from public resources in
favor of the local business environment.

d) Transparency of the Financial Relations - Mirror of the Public Money reflects the main rules regarding the
transparency of the financial relations between the public authorities and the public undertakings, as well as
the financial transparency between certain undertakings.

e) Guide regarding the Assessment of the Support Methods in the Culture and National Heritage Field
from the Perspective of Compatibility with the State Aid Legislation

f) Guide regarding the Financing of Romanian Education System Comparative with certain EU Member
States from the Perspective of Compatibility with the State Aid Legislation

g) The Competences of the National Courts in the Competition Field after Romania's Accession to the EU:
this information guide is intended for the national courts which, after accession, have the competence to apply
directly the Community rules in the field of competition.

h) Are you affected by an anticompetitive practice? You have the right to complain!: The information guide
is intended for the persons who consider that they are affected by an anticompetitive practice and it presents
the main instruments useful for addressing this issue to the competition authority.

i) The Access to the Competition Council's Investigation File: The information guide presents the
procedures used by an interest person in order to value its right to defense, by accessing the Competition
Council's investigation files.

111
 j) Regulile de concuren comunitare aplicabile dup 1 ianuarie 2007: aceast publicaie, care se
6

adreseaz mediului de afaceri, prezint sintetic regulile de concuren care vor fi aplicabile dup data aderrii,
principalele schimbri care se vor produce ca efect al aderrii, competenele Consiliului Concurenei etc.

5.3. Relaia Consiliului Concurenei cu mass-media

Transparena activitii desfurate de Consiliul Concurenei n anul 2006 a fost asigurat i prin dialogul activ
i permanent cu mass-media. Astfel, au fost publicate n cotidiene i periodice cu acoperire naional, articole
i suplimente speciale cu tematic specific i de actualitate n domeniul concurenei i ajutorului de stat.

n cursul anului 2006, preedintele Consiliului Concurenei a acordat 44 de interviuri n presa scris i audio-
vizual, a participat la 21 de emisiuni radio-tv i a susinut 3 conferine de pres, cu ocazia desfurrii de
evenimente importante.

Activitatea Consiliului Concurenei a fost reflectat i n publicarea a 3.176 articole de pres, din care 59,4%
(respectiv un numr de 1.887 de articole) au avut ca surs autoritatea de concuren. De asemenea,
intensificarea eforturilor depuse de Consiliul Concurenei pentru a aduce n prim plan informaii de actualitate
din activitatea sa specific, s-a concretizat prin emiterea unui numr de 205 comunicate de pres (cu 16,5%
mai mult dect n anul 2005) (Graficul nr.11).

250
206

200 176

141
150
(num ar )

100

50

0
2004 2005 2006

112
j) Community Competition Rules Applicable after the 1st of January 2007: This publication is intended for

6
the business environment and it presents, in a syntactical manner, the competition rules applicable after the
date of accession, the main changes related to the accession, the Competition Council's attributions etc.

5.3. The Competition Council's relation with the mass-media

In 2006, the transparency of the Competition Council's activity was provided by the active and permanent
dialogue with the mass-media. As a consequence, articles and special supplements presenting issues of interest
in the field of competition and State aid were published in national daily newspapers and periodicals.

During 2006, the President of the Competition Council granted 44 interviews to the written press and to the
audio and visual media, attended 21 radio and TV shows and hold 3 press conferences related to certain
important events.

The Competition Council's activity was reflected in 3,176 press articles, of which 59.4% (1,887 articles) had as
source the competition authority. The Competition Council's increased efforts for highlighting certain
information of interest regarding its specific activity was concretized in 205 press releases (16.5% more
compared to 2005) (Graph no.11).

250
206

200 176

141
150
(no.)

100

50

0
2004 2005 2006

113
 Capitolul VI

Pe parcursul anului 2006, Consiliul Concurenei i-a intensificat

CONSOLIDAREA
6

activitile legate de ntrirea capacitii administrative, n scopul

creterii gradului de eficien n aplicarea legislaiei n domeniul
concurenei i ajutorului de stat i atingerii standardelor
CAPACITII
comunitare.
ADMINISTRATIVE
Consolidarea capacitii administrative a presupus alocarea de
fonduri semnificative, precum i continuarea activitii de dotare
cu tehnic de calcul modern, care s rspund standardelor
impuse unei instituii de talie european. n acest sens, n anul
2006, Consiliul Concurenei a beneficiat de fonduri de 34,6
mil.lei, din care 95,3% au provenit de la bugetul de stat i 4,7%
din fonduri externe din proiecte PHARE. Utilizarea eficient a
fondurilor a condus la un grad de execuie de 97% pentru
alocaiile bugetare primite.

Este de remarcat c la capitolul de bunuri i servicii s-a nregistrat

un nivel maxim de execuie bugetar, respectiv de 100%. Astfel,
n cursul anului 2006 s-a achiziionat i implementat un
instrument standard (program de tip Forensic Analyser) de
autentificare, cutare i recuperare de probe n timpul
inspeciilor inopinate, al crui scop este obinerea de date care s
ntruneasc caracterul de prob juridic, pe parcursul derulrii
procedurii de investigaie.

Un loc deosebit n cadrul consolidrii capacitii administrative

l-a ocupat i implementarea de aplicaii n cadrul Reelei
Europene de Concuren, destinate asigurrii compatibilitii
Sistemului Informatic Integrat al Consiliului Concurenei cu
Sistemele Informatice ale statelor membre ale Uniunii Europene.

Totodat, n cadrul prioritilor orientate ctre pregtirea pentru

aderarea la Uniunea European, Consiliul Concurenei a acordat
o atenie deosebit aciunilor de pregtire profesional a
experilor proprii.

Astfel, n cursul anului 2006, au avut loc 189 de aciuni de

formare profesional att a experilor din domeniul
concurenei, ct i a celor din domeniul ajutorului de stat, care au
constat n participri la seminarii organizate n ar sau n
strintate, la dezbateri intra/inter-departamentale i cursuri de
pregtire (Graficul nr.12).

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 Chapter VI

CONSOLIDATION During 2006, the Competition Council intensified its activity

6
aiming at strengthening the administrative capacity. The purpose
OF THE was to increase the efficiency in enforcing the competition and
State aid legislation and to attain the Community standards.
ADMINISTRATIVE
The consolidation of the administrative capacity required the
CAPACITY allocation of substantial funds, as well as the continuation in
endowing the institution with modern office equipment, in order
to attain the standards of the European institutions. In this
respect, in 2006 the Competition Council beneficiated from
34.6 million lei, of which 95.3% coming from the State budget
and 4.7% from PHARE funds. The efficient use of funds had as
effect a share of 97% expenditure from the received budgetary
allocations.

Note should be made that the budgetary execution

corresponding to the goods and services expenditure chapter
reached the maximum level - 100%. Consequently, in 2006 a
standard instrument (a Forensic Analyser programme) for
authentication, search and recuperation of evidences was
acquired and implemented. This instrument is used in dawn raids
for obtaining certain data which can be qualified as legal
evidence within investigations.

A special role was also played by the implementation of IT

applications within the European Competition Network. They
were designed to provide the compatibility of the Competition
Council's Integrated IT System with the IT systems of the
competition authorities of the EU Member States.

At the same time, within its objectives regarding the EU

accession, the Competition Council has paid a special attention
to training of its experts.

Therefore, during 2006, 189 training actions on competition

and State aid were carried out. These actions consisted in
seminars organized within or outside the country, intra/inter
departmental debates and training courses (Graph no.12).

115
 9,0%
6

42,9% 48,1%

dezbateri inter si intradepartamentale cursuri de pregatire seminarii

Cursul de limba englez pentru experii Consiliului Concurenei, iniiat nc din anul 2004, a continuat n anul
2006, cu modulul pentru nivel avansat.

Dintre aciunile de formare profesional desfurate n anul 2006, merit a fi subliniate urmtoarele:

dezbaterea
= cu tema Lobby in Europa. Discuiile purtate cu domnul Graham Branton, director pentru
politica n domeniul ajutorului de stat, Departamentul de Comer i Industrie din Marea Britanie, au fost
axate pe mbuntirea nivelului de pregtire profesional a experilor Consiliului Concurenei i pe
reprezentarea autoritii romne de concuren n cadrul organismelor internaionale i europene;
seminarul Aspecte privind Instrumentele Structurale ale Uniunii Europene, susinut de dl. John
=
Bedingfield i dl. Richard Harding. Seminarul a oferit experilor din cadrul Consiliului Concurenei
posibilitatea de a aprofunda cunotinele referitoare la mecanismul de funcionare a Instrumentelor
Structurale devenite accesibile i pentru Romnia dup data aderrii;
atelierul de lucru cu tema Regulile privind ajutorul de stat n contextul instrumentelor structurale, cu
=
participarea doamnei Hanne Hoeck, expert britanic n ajutor de stat i instrumente structurale i, de
asemenea, expert n cadrul Proiectului de Twining;
seminarul privind aplicarea Regulamentului Consiliului (CE) nr.1/2003 i funcionarea Reelei Europene de
=
Concuren; acest seminar a fost organizat prin intermediul oficiului TAIEX din cadrul DG Extindere,
Comisia European. Cu aceast ocazie au avut loc dezbateri privind situaii concrete de aplicare a
pachetului de modernizare a regulilor comunitare n materie de concuren;
asistena tehnic acordat de domnul Russell Pittman, director n cadrul Direciei Antitrust a
=
Departamentului de Justiie din SUA, cu privire la modalitile de analiz a cazurilor de concuren. Aceast
vizit de lucru s-a nscris pe linia aciunilor care vizeaz consolidarea aplicrii legislaiei antitrust
(enforcement record);
atelierul de lucru pe tema relaiilor dintre reglementatorii din domeniul energiei i ai gazelor naturale i
=
autoritatea de concuren, organizat de Asociaia Regional a Reglementatorilor n domeniul Energiei
(ERRA); organizarea acestui workshop a urmat lucrrilor celei de-a cincea Conferine privind investiiile i
reglementarea n domeniul energiei, Budapesta;
seminarul cu tema Audieri publice n contextul adoptrii de ctre Comisia European a unei strategii
=
revizuite a UE n domeniul energiei, Bruxelles;
seminarul organizat cu reprezentanii autoritii de concuren din Bulgaria, n cadrul cruia au fost
=
dezbtute teme privind: tehnici de investigaie pentru combaterea cartelurilor; concurena n sectorul
comunicaiilor; dovezi, sanciuni i remedii n cazurile de abuz de poziie dominant etc.

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 9,0%

6
42,9% 48,1%

Inter and intra departamental debates Training courses Seminars

In 2006 the Competition Council's experts continued to attend the English language course - advanced level
module. This course was initiated in 2004.

It is worth to underline the following training actions carried out throughout 2006:

the debate on the Lobby in Europe; the discussions with Mr. Graham Branton, Director on State aid Policy,
=
UK Department of Trade and Industry, were focused on the improvement of the training level of the
Competition Council's experts and on the representation of the Romanian competition authority within the
international and European bodies;
the seminar Aspects on EU Structural Instruments, chaired by de Mr. John Bedingfield and Mr. Richard
=
Harding - British experts; the seminar represented an opportunity for the Competition Council's experts to
deepen theirs knowledge on the functioning mechanism of the Structural Instruments. After the EU
accession, this funds became accessible also for Romania;
the workshop on State aid rules and the Structural Instruments, chaired by Mrs. Hanne Hoeck, British
=
specialist on State aid and structural instruments and expert within the Twining Project ;
the seminar on the application of the Council Regulation (EC) no.1/2003 and the functioning of the
=
European Competition Network; this seminar was organized through TAIEX - DG Enlargement, European
Commission. The debates focused on existing situations related to the enforcement of the new Community
competition rules, the so-called Modernization Package;
the technical assistance provided by Mr. Russell Pittman, Director within the Antitrust Directorate of the US
=
Department of Justice, regarding the analysis of competition cases. This working visit was part of the actions
envisaging the consolidation of the enforcement record;
the workshop on the relations between the regulators in the energy and natural gas sectors and the
=
competition authority, organized by the Energy Regional Regulators Association (ERRA); this workshop
followed the works of the fifth Energy Regulation and Investment Conference, Budapest;
the seminar on Public hearings in the context of the adoption by the European Commission of a EU
=
reviewed strategy in the field of energy, Bruxelles;
the seminar organised jointly with the representatives of the Bulgarian competition authority; the following
=
subjects were debated: investigative techniques in fighting cartels; competition in the communications
sector; evidences, sanctions and remedies in cases of abuse of dominant position etc.

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 Capitolul VII

Cei 10 ani de activitate n domeniul concurenei au nsemnat

VIZIUNE
6

pentru Consiliul Concurenei eforturi deosebite n realizarea

obiectivelor, n special a celor impuse de aderarea la Uniunea
European. PROSPECTIV
Consiliul Concurenei a fost instituia desemnat de Guvernul
Romniei s asigure coordonarea negocierilor la capitolul de
concuren n cadrul procesului de aderare a Romniei la
Uniunea European.

ndeplinirea acestor sarcini a presupus depunerea de eforturi

susinute, orientate cu preponderen spre:
= consolidarea capacitii administrative;
= aplicarea efectiv a legii concurenei i a legii ajutorului de
stat;
= adoptarea legislaiei secundare n domeniul concurenei i
ajutorului, deplin armonizat cu legislaia comunitar
corespondent.

La 10 ani de la intrarea n vigoare a legii concurenei, autoritatea

romn de concuren se afl n faa unor provocri la fel de
importante, generate de noul statut al Romniei, de stat membru
al Uniunii Europeane.

Astfel, n materie de antitrust, ncepnd cu 1 ianuarie 2007

Consiliul Concurenei are obligaia de a aplica direct prevederile
art. 81 i 82 din Tratatul CE n cazul practicilor anticoncureniale
care afecteaz sau amenin s afecteze comerul ntre statele
membre. Aceasta nu nseamn, ns, c Legea concurenei
nr.21/1996 a devenit caduc; aceasta va continua s fie aplicat
n cazurile care afecteaz exclusiv piaa naional.

n materie de ajutor de stat, de la data aderrii, competena de

autorizare a ajutoarelor de stat a fost transferat de la Consiliul
Concurenei ctre Comisia European. Consiliul Concurenei a
devenit autoritatea naional de contact n relaia cu Comisia
European.

n acest context, obiectivele i prioritile Consiliului

Concurenei pentru anul 2007 trebuie s fie adecvate noilor
responsabilitii din domeniul concurenei, precum i rolului de
autoritate naional de contact n domeniul ajutorului de stat.
Acestea vor viza, n principal urmtoarele:
= continuarea consolidrii capacitii administrative a
Consiliului Concurenei prin asigurarea de resurse financiare,
tehnice i umane adecvate;
= consolidarea independenei decizionale a Consiliului
Concurenei, prin urmrirea ndeplinirii criteriilor de
independen referitoare la: modalitatea de numire, criteriile
de eligibilitate, durata mandatului etc.;
= urmrirea evoluiei acquis-ului comunitar din domeniul
concurenei i armonizarea continu a legislaiei naionale cu
acesta;

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 Chapter VII

PROSPECTIVE The 10 years activity in the field of competition represented for

6
the Competition Council intensive efforts for achieving its
objectives, in particular those related to the EU accession.
OVERVIEW
The Competition Council was the institution designated by the
Romanian Government to coordinate the negotiations on the
competition chapter within the process of accession to the
European Union.

Fulfilling these tasks involved sustained efforts, mainly towards:

- consolidating the administrative capacity;
- effective enforcement of the competition and State aid laws;
- adopting the secondary legislation on competition and State
aid, fully harmonized with the corresponding Community
legislation.

After 10 years from the entering into force of the Competition

Law, the Romanian competition authority is facing equally
important challenges generated by the new status of Romania, as
a EU Member State.

Therefore, in the field of antitrust, starting with the 1st of January

2007, the Competition Council has the obligation to implement
directly art.81 and 82 of the EC Treaty in the case of
anticompetitive practices affecting or threatening to affect trade
between Member States. This does not mean that Competition
Law no. nr.21/1996 became inapplicable; it will continue to be
applicablein all cases affecting exclusively the national market.

In the field of State aid, starting with the accession date, the
competence of authorizing States aid was transferred from the
Competition Council to the European Commission. The
Competition Council became the national contact authority in
the relation with the European Commission.

In this context, the Competition Council's objectives and

priorities for 2007 must be appropriate to the new responsibilities
in the competition field, as well as to the role of national contact
authority in the field of State aid.
These will envisage, in particular:
= consolidation of Competition Council's administrative
capacity by providing adequate financial, technical and
human resources;
= consolidation of Competition Council's decisional
independence by fulfilling the independency criteria:
appointment manner, eligibility criteria, the mandate duration
etc;
= monitoring the evolution of the Community acquis on
competition and continuous harmonization of the national
legislation in this respect;
= focusing the resources on detecting and sanctioning the most
serious infringements of the Competition Law;

119
 concentrarea resurselor asupra detectrii i sancionrii celor mai grave nclcri ale legii concurenei;
=
6

utilizarea adecvat a instrumentelor de investigaie i a metodelor de analiz economic specifice;

=
aplicarea de sanciuni severe n caz de nclcare grav a regulilor relevante;
=
identificarea unor politici comune cu celelalte state membre;
=
introducerea cazierului n domeniul concurenei.
=

Realizarea acestor obiective va contribui la consolidarea poziiei i credibilitii Consiliului Concurenei, n

calitatea sa de garant al funcionrii economiei de pia pe baza liberei concurene.

120
adequate use of the investigation tools and of the specific economic analysis methods;
=

6
applying severe sanctions in serious infringements of the relevant rules;
=
identification of certain common policy
= with other EU Member States;
introducing the criminal record in the field of competition.
=

Achieving these goals will contribute to the consolidation of Competition Council's position and credibility, as
guarantor of the market economy functioning on the basis of free competition.

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 Anexa nr.1
6

EXTRASE DIN DECIZII ALE PLENULUI CONSILIULUI CONCURENEI

I. Decizia nr. 97/25.04.2006 privind sancionarea societii CROSS LANDER USA INC

Domeniul de activitate al societii sancionate: comercializarea de automobile ARO i piese de schimb n

America de Nord, America Central i America de Sud, precum i asigurarea asistenei tehnice post-vnzare.

Prevederi legale nclcate: art.15 alin (4) din Legea concurenei nr.21/1996 republicat, prin punerea n
aplicare a unei operaiuni de concentrare economic pn la emiterea de ctre Consiliul Concurenei a unei
decizii;

Valoarea amenzii aplicate: 668.358,78 lei.

II. Decizia nr. 119/15.05.2006 privind sancionarea

SOCIETII NAIONALE DE TRANSPORT FEROVIAR DE MARF CFR MARF SA

Domeniul de activitate al societii sancionate: efectuarea transportului feroviar public de marf;

Piaa relevant a produsului: servicii de exploatare, ntreinere i reparaii pentru locomotive, servicii
specifice pentru personalul care deservete locomotivele i toate celelalte activiti necesare bunei desfurri
a transportului feroviar de marf.

Piaa geografic a produsului : pia regional, definit n funcie de locaia unitilor regionale aflate n
patrimoniul acesteia, respectiv de regiunile n care se afl depourile CFR Marf;

Prevederi legale nclcate: Art.6 lit. a) i c) din Legea concurenei nr.21/1996 republicat, respectiv: folosirea
n mod abuziv a unei poziii dominante deinute de ctre unul sau mai muli ageni economici pe piaa
romneasc ori pe o parte substanial a acesteia, prin recurgerea la fapte anticoncureniale, care au ca obiect
sau pot avea ca efect afectarea activitii economice ori prejudicierea consumatorilor, de tipul:
= impunerii, n mod direct sau indirect, a preurilor de vnzare sau de cumprare, a tarifelor ori a altor clauze
contractuale inechitabile i refuzul de a trata cu anumii furnizori sau beneficiari;
= aplicrii, n privina partenerilor comerciali, a unor condiii inegale la prestaii echivalente, provocnd n
acest fel, unora dintre ei, un dezavantaj n poziia concurenial.

Valoarea amenzii aplicate: 26.987. 010 lei.

III. Decizia nr. 237/12.12.2006 privind sancionarea

SC UPC ROMNIA SA, SC RCS & RDS SA i SC CABLE VISION OF ROMANIA SA

Domeniul de activitate al societilor sancionate: servicii de retransmisie prin cablu a programelor TV;

Piaa relevant a produsului: piaa serviciilor de retransmisie a programelor TV prin cablu (servicii CATV);

Piaa geografic a produsului: zone din municipiul Timioara, astfel :

zone acoperite de o singur reea de CATV, aparinnd UPC i n care consumatorul nu are posibilitatea de a
=
alege ntre 2 sau mai muli furnizori de servicii; n aceste zone, UPC este singurul operator economic n
calitate de furnizor al serviciilor CATV, deinnd de facto poziia de monopol;
zone acoperite de o singur reea de CATV, aparinnd HI-FI i n care consumatorul nu are posibilitatea de
=
a alege ntre 2 sau mai muli furnizori de servicii; n aceste zone, HI-FI este singurul operator economic n
calitate de furnizor al serviciilor CATV, deinnd de facto poziia de monopol;

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 Annex no.1

6
EXCERPTS FROM DECISIONS OF THE COMPETITION COUNCIL'S PLENUM

I. Decision no. 97/25.04.2006 regarding the sanctioning of the undertaking CROSS LANDER USA INC

Activity field of the sanctioned undertaking: trading ARO auto vehicles and exchange parts in Northern
America, Central America and South America, as well as providing post sale technical assistance;

Legal provisions infringed: art.15 align (4) of Competition Law no.21/1996 republished, by implementing an
economic concentration until the issue of a Competition Council decision;

Value of the fine: 668,358.78 lei.

II. Decision no.119/15.05.2006 regarding the sanctioning of the NATIONAL FREIGHT RAILWAY
TRANSPORT COMPANY - CFR MARF SA

Activity field of the sanctioned undertaking: providing the public service of freight railroad transportation;

Relevant product market: exploitation, maintenance, and repair services for the railway engines, specific
services for the railway engine personnel, and all the other activities required for the proper functioning of
railroad freight transportation;

Relevant geographical market: regional market, defined upon the location of the regional units of CFR Marf,
respectively upon the regions where the depots of CFR Marf are located;

Legal provisions infringed: Art.6 (a) and (c) of Competition Law no.21/1996 republished, namely: the
abusive use of a dominant position of one or several undertakings on the Romanian market or on a substantial
part of it, by resorting to anticompetitive deeds, which have as an object or may have as an effect the distortion
of commerce or the prejudice of consumers. Such abusive practices are primarily those:
= imposing, directly or indirectly, the sale or purchase prices, the tariffs or other inequitable contractual
clauses, as well as refusing to deal with certain suppliers or customers;
= applying unequal terms for equivalent services to trade partners, thereby placing some of them at a
competitive disadvantage.

Value of the fine: 26,987,010 lei.

III. Decision no. 237/12.12.2006 regarding the sanctioning of SC UPC ROMANIA SA, SC RCS &RDS SA
and SC CABLE VISION OF ROMANIA SA

Activity fields of the sanctioned undertakings: TV programs retransmission services;

Relevant product market: market of TV programs retransmission services by cable (CATV services);

Relevant geographical market: zones from Timioara municipality, as follows:

areas covered
= by a single CATV network, belonging to UPC where the consumer does not have the
possibility to choose between 2 or more services suppliers; in these areas, UPC is the only CATV services
supplier, having a de facto monopoly position;
= areas covered by a single CATV network, belonging to HI-FI where the consumer does not have the
possibility to choose between 2 or more services suppliers; in these areas, HI-FI is the only CATV services
supplier, having a de facto monopoly position;

123
 zone acoperite de o singur reea de CATV, aparinnd FAVORIT i n care consumatorul nu are posibilitatea
=
6

de a alege ntre 2 sau mai muli furnizori de servicii; n aceste zone, FAVORIT este singurul operator
economic n calitate de furnizor al serviciilor CATV, deinnd de facto poziia de monopol.

Prevederi legale nclcate: art.5 alin (1) lit.c) i art.6 lit.a) din Legea concurenei nr.21/1996 republicat,
respectiv:

nelegeri
= exprese sau tacite ntre agenii economici ori asociaiile de ageni economici, orice decizii luate
de asociaiile de ageni economici i orice practici concertate, care au ca obiect sau au ca efect restrngerea,
mpiedicarea ori denaturarea concurenei pe piaa romneasc sau pe o parte a acesteia, cum este
mprirea pieelor de desfacere sau a surselor de aprovizionare, pe criteriu teritorial, al volumului de
vnzri i achiziii ori pe alte criterii (art.5, alin.(1) lit.c));
folosirea n mod abuziv a unei poziii dominante deinute de ctre unul sau mai muli ageni economici pe
=
piaa romneasc ori pe o parte substanial a acesteia, prin recurgerea la fapte anticoncureniale, care au
ca obiect sau pot avea ca efect afectarea activitii economice ori prejudicierea consumatorilor, cum este
cazul impunerii, n mod direct sau indirect, a preurilor de vnzare sau de cumprare, a tarifelor ori a altor
clauze contractuale inechitabile i refuzul de a trata cu anumii furnizori sau beneficiari (art.6, lit.a).

Valoarea cumulativ a amenzii aplicate: 25.944.809 lei.

IV. Decizia nr. 242/21.12.2006 privind sancionarea societii SC COMNORD SA

Domeniul de activitate al societii sancionate: construcii de cldiri i lucrri de geniu;

Piaa relevant: construcii metalice; nchiriere de utilaje de construcii; activitate de comer cu amnuntul pe
ntreg teritoriul Romniei; nchiriere de hale industriale pe teritoriul municipiului Bucureti i zona nvecinat;

Prevederi legale nclcate: art.15 alin (4) din Legea concurenei nr.21/1996 republicat prin punerea n
aplicare a unei operaiuni de concentrare economic pn la emiterea de ctre Consiliul Concurenei a unei
decizii;

Valoarea amenzii aplicate: 500.000 lei.

124
areas covered
= by a single CATV network, belonging to FAVORIT where the consumer does not have the

6
possibility to choose between 2 or more services suppliers; in these areas, FAVORIT is the only CATV
services supplier, having a de facto monopoly position.

Legal provisions infringed: art.5 (1)(c) and art.6 (a) of Competition Law no.21/1996 republished,
respectively:

express
= or tacit agreements between undertakings or associations of undertakings, any decisions by
associations of undertakings and any concerted practices, which have as their object or may have as their
effect the restriction, prevention or distortion of competition on the Romanian market or on a part of it, such
as allocating distribution markets or supply sources according to territorial criteria, sales-and purchase
volume or other criteria -art.5 (1)(c);
the abusive use of a dominant position of one or several undertakings on the Romanian market or on a
=
substantial part of it, by resorting to anticompetitive deeds, which have as an object or may have as an effect
the distortion of commerce or the prejudice of consumers, such as imposing, directly or indirectly, the sale
or purchase prices, the tariffs or other inequitable contractual clauses, as well as refusing to deal with certain
suppliers or customers -art.6(a).

Total value of the fines: 25,944,809 lei.

IV. Decision no. 242/21.12.2006 regarding the sanctioning of SC COMNORD SA

Activity field of the sanctioned undertaking: building constructions and civil engineering works;

Relevant market: metallic constructions; construction equipment renting; en detail commerce on the
Romanian territory; industrial halls renting in Bucharest and in the neighboring area;

Legal provisions infringed: art.15 (4) of Competition Law no.21/1996, republished, by implementing an
economic concentration until the issue of a Competition Council decision;

Value of the fine: 500,000 lei.

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126
Annex no. 2

127
6

128
 Measures provided by the restructuring plans and implemented

6
by benefiting from rescue and restructuring State aids
(results of the Monitoring Report of the Rescue and Restructuring State Aids Granted to Firms in Difficulty, 2006)

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ISSN 1583-431X