The Hungarian Competition Office has published what it considers to be its highlights of 2005:
- Considering 1,801 competition supervision proceedings, with 53 findings that competition law had been violated and total fines amounting to c. €9,856,000.
- Conducting dawn raids and other high profile interventions in public procurement cartel cases, particularly road construction cartels. Total fines of c. €8,612,000 were imposed in cartel cases in 2005.
- Operating a successful leniency programme, including investigation into the market for gas-check high voltage electrical switchgears and a division of the market for benzyl butyl phthalate (used to make PVC and other flooring materials).
- Many proceedings for unfair influence on consumers' decisions, particularly for deceptive adverts published by fixed and mobile phone operators, banks, health service providers and large retail chains. Total fines of c. €1 million were imposed.
- Investigating abuses of a dominant position, particularly by telecoms companies and also monitoring various practices of cable network companies.
- Considering more than 50 applications for merger clearance as well as a number of cases in which the parties failed to apply for merger clearance.
- Carrying out a comprehensive review of the market for mortgage-backed housing loans and the electricity sector.
Overseeing the introduction of legislation on 1 November 2005 to abolish Hungary’s individual exemption regime, introduce a new merger notification threshold and refine several procedural rules.
