In 1998 the Slovak Antitrust Office launched administrative proceedings in 275 cases. Of this number, 217 were cases where competition was allegedly restricted, while 58 cases involved alleged abuse of a dominant market position. The bureau issued 287 decisions last year, while proceedings in 78 cases have not been concluded, the Antitrust Office said on February 11.
Besides activities that hampered economic competition, the bureau also reviewed 97 mergers and takeovers, 20 of which still drag on. The bureau also ensured that economic competition was protected by attacking discriminatory edicts issued by state and local authorities.
The bureau collected fines and penalties totaling 13.4 million Sk ($350,000) in 1998. State-owned power distributor Zapadoslovenske Energeticke Zavody received the highest fine of 5 million Sk for abuse of its dominant position on the power distribution market.
