In the context of a looming post-COVID-19 financial crisis, exacerbated by the Russian intervention in Ukraine, soaring energy and fuel prices, and rapidly rising inflation, the Romanian government has recently adopted Government Emergency Ordinance 84/2022 on combating speculative actions and amending and supplementing certain normative acts (the “GEO”). The GEO was published in the Official Gazette on 20 June 2022 and will enter into force fully in 30 days from publication.
The GEO amends Law no. 11/1991 on unfair competition (the “Unfair Competition Law”) and introduces major changes to the legal framework of unfair competition rules in Romania. The GEO provides for, inter alia, sanctions for speculative actions taken in times of crisis and also introduces the concept of a superior bargaining position (“SBP”), the abuse of which constitutes an unfair competition practice.
