29 - A Barking Dog Seldom Bites

Summary

Polish competition law is characterized by the strong predominance of public enforcement. The crucial component of the Polish system of sanctions has always been administrative corporate fines regulated in much the same way as under EU Law. So far, however, the Polish competition law does not recognize the concept of the single economic unit. This means that the amount of fine is always calculated on the basis of the whole or a part of a direct infringer's turnover. Similarly the fines imposed on associations of undertakings are calculated exclusively on the basis of an association’s turnover. Such a concept of undertaking contributes to the intensification of one of the problems related to enforcement of Polish competition law: the low level of fines imposed by the Competition Authority (CA). The 2014 ACCP amendment introduced into the Polish system individual administrative fines of up to PLN 2 million (c. EUR 450,000) for intentional infringements of the prohibition of anticompetitive agreements, and remedies which may be imposed with or without a fine. These amendments may have significant impact on the effectiveness of the Polish competition law system, in particular by strengthening the deterrent effect of the decisions of the CA.