Romania: Romanian Competition Council catching up with the digital era

In 2018, the Romanian Competition Council (‘CC’) started a project to implement an IT system based on a Big Data platform. The new IT system will allow for more efficient processing of evidence and high volumes of data and quicker identification of cartels, particularly in bids for public contracts.

This system, due to be implemented by 2020, is part of an extensive investment plan by the CC to improve its IT facilities. In recent years, the CC has invested extensively in its forensic laboratory and now also uses the latest software to gain access to all hardware and software infrastructure in companies investigated during dawn raids.

Given these increased capabilities as well as the latest intensified actions of the CC in enforcing competition policy, all companies operating in Romania are encouraged to take a closer look at their commercial practices and strengthen their compliance programmes in order to mitigate antitrust-related risks.