Annual Report 2024 in English
In 2024, the Office focused on the effective exercise of its powers, consistent market monitoring, and transparent communication with the public, all in a period marked by the fading effects of inflationary pressures and structural challenges within the European economy.
One of the sectors receiving considerable attention from the Office last year was the agri-food industry. Analytical work continued, aimed at monitoring the competitive environment in specific market segments, particularly in the production and sale of sugar and butter. A new sector inquiry was launched into the production and off-trade sale of non-alcoholic beverages.
A significant part of the Annual Report is also devoted to legislative initiatives submitted by the Office in 2024. Among these is a draft amendment to the Act on the Protection of Competition, which would grant the Office new tools to intervene in markets that are not functioning efficiently, even in the absence of clear violations of competition rules.
In terms of its decision-making activities, the Office maintained a stable level of performance. It issued a total of 11 decisions on prohibited agreements, imposing fines exceeding CZK 340 million. Significant sanctions were imposed in cases involving vertical resale-price maintenance agreements by distributors of household appliances and pet food. The Office also devoted substantial attention to merger control. It issued 65 decisions in total, including 50 under simplified procedures and 13 under standard procedures, one of which advanced to Phase II. In two cases, mergers were approved conditionally upon the fulfillment of commitments aimed at preserving effective competition.
Supervision of public procurement remains one of the most closely monitored areas of the Office's mandate. In 2024, over 650 administrative proceedings were initiated and more than 1,680 decisions were issued, including 710 on the merits.
In the area of state aid, the Office played an important role, especially in managing notifications and negotiating with the European Commission on measures and support schemes — for example, for the construction of a new unit at the Dukovany nuclear power plant, combined heat and power generation, support for rental housing, and the operation of data mailboxes.
In the newly established agenda concerning access to transport infrastructure, the Office succeeded in stabilizing its expert team and issued over 300 decisions. These included, among others, the assessment and processing of the 2025 Railway Infrastructure Statement and the Plan for Capacity Restrictions.
Annual Report 2024 is available here
Press Unit of the Office
2025-11-20 / Office for the Protection of Competition has agreed on commitments with Alma Career, job portal system will be more accessible to competitors The Office for the Protection of Competition has closed administrative proceedings concerning the possible abuse of a dominant position by the Alma Career Group in the field of advertising on job portals...
2025-11-20 / Office for the Protection of Competition imposed fine of CZK 9.9 million on K + B Progres for fixing prices for retailers The Office for the Protection of Competition issued a decision to impose a fine of CZK 9,904,000 on K + B Progres, a.s., for infringement of national and EU competition rules. The company was found guilty...
2025-11-13 / Save the Date: ICN Unilateral Conduct Workshop to be held in Prague in April 2026 The Office for the Protection of Competition of the Czech Republic will host next year’s workshop of the International Competition Network (ICN) focusing on unilateral conduct
2025-11-07 / The 2025 St. Martin's Conference Addressed EU-wide Issues and Czech Competition Policy Tools On 5 and 6 November 2025, the 18th annual St. Martin's Conference on news and current trends in the protection of competition and significant market power was held at the premises of the Office for the...
2025-11-07 / AWARDS FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PROTECTION OF COMPETITION AND FOR THE BEST STUDENT THESIS WERE PRESENTED AT THE ST. MARTIN'S CONFERENCE. During the St. Martin's Conference, Mr. Petr Mlsna, Chairman of the Office for the Protection of Competition, presented Mr. Bogdan Chiritoiu, Chairman of the Romanian Competition Authority, with an award...
2025-10-13 / Merger of Car Dealers in České Budějovice Approved Subject to Conditions Consisting of KIA Car Service Centre Divesture The Office for the Protection of Competition has conditionally cleared the concentration between undertakings CB Auto a.s. and AUTO FUTURE, s.r.o., in the market of the retail sale and servicing of passenger...
2025-09-08 / St. Martin's Conference 2025: introducing topics and opening registration The Office for the Protection of Competition (hereinafter referred to as "the Office") invites experts and others interested in competition law to the 18th annual St. Martin's Conference, which will...
2025-08-05 / The Office Has Again Imposed Fines on Three Meal Voucher Issuers Totalling over CZK 279 million The Office for the Protection of Competition (hereinafter referred to as “the Office”) issued a first-instance decision to reimpose fines on meal voucher issuers, further specifying the exact reasons...