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Country law guide · Romania

Competition & antitrust in Romania

Merger review, restrictive agreements, abuse of dominance and regulatory investigations.

Romania's Competition Law No. 21/1996 provides the national framework for restrictive conduct and merger control alongside EU competition rules. Its consolidation history includes later amendments, so current procedure should be verified. The substance of control and market effects matters more than the deal's commercial label.

Review exclusivity, pricing and information exchange separately from acquisition approval. Internal competition records should be preserved if a regulatory enquiry or suspected infringement arises. The review should consider the market context, control relationships and commercial effects, with sensitive information restricted during negotiations and separate responsibility assigned for any notification or clearance before implementation.

Key laws & official sources

Competition Law No. 21/1996

Provides competition prohibitions and merger-control legislation with consolidation history.

Point to check

Merger clearance, foreign-investment screening and sector approval are separate; investigate the relevant jurisdiction and current thresholds before implementation.

Practical next steps

  • Check the current Competition Law and the arrangement's actual market effects.
  • Assess control, turnover, market position and restrictive clauses.
  • Preserve clean-team arrangements and regulatory correspondence.

Documents to prepare

  • Market and turnover information
  • Commercial agreements and internal guidance
  • Regulator correspondence and transaction papers
Illustrative legal professionals with the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest
Illustrative professional scene: the Palace of Parliament, Bucharest. Fictional people; not a Jurisiti office or team photograph.

How Jurisiti can help

Competition analysis depends on conduct, market conditions and jurisdictional thresholds rather than the contract label alone. National rules and EU rules may both require consideration where their conditions are met. Review exclusivity, information exchange, pricing restrictions and filing obligations before implementing an arrangement.

  • Distribution and cooperation arrangements
  • Merger control and transaction planning
  • Investigations, compliance and damages claims

Questions about your matter

How do I start a competition & antitrust enquiry in Romania?

Identify the jurisdiction, the people involved, any existing proceeding or deadline, and the result you need. A short chronology and the key documents help define the proposed engagement before local professional arrangements are confirmed.

Can a cross-border matter involve more than one legal system?

Yes. Romania may be one part of a wider matter involving another place of residence, contracting party, asset or forum. Applicable law, jurisdiction and enforcement should be assessed separately, using the relevant national and international rules.

Does this guide establish a lawyer-client relationship?

No. An enquiry or use of this guide does not establish an engagement. Conflicts, professional authority, scope, responsibilities and fees must be confirmed before work is undertaken.

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