Translated using ChatGPT.
On December 26, 2024, amendments to the Competition Law came into effect, granting the Competition Council (CC) a new role: providing methodological support to public procurers in identifying, evaluating, and calculating losses resulting from competition law violations.
Going forward, the CC will offer consultations to public procurers on methods for assessing and calculating damages, as well as provide advisory support in preparing damage calculations for filing claims in court.
This new function will be distinct from the CC’s administrative investigations of competition law violations, thus eliminating any risk of conflict of interest. Under this framework, the CC will analyze only the information submitted by public procurers, and the opinions, calculations, and consultations provided by the CC will be advisory in nature. Additionally, the Chairperson of the CC will not be involved in issuing these opinions or their substantive content.
"Recovering damages is a fair victory for public procurers in the fight against unfair supplier practices, which not only harm procurers but also consumers, who may face higher end-product prices as a result. I encourage every public procurer who has suffered losses due to dishonest competition law violations to reach out to the CC. We will strive to ensure justice is served and guide you through the claims process in a clear and efficient manner," emphasized Juris Gaiķis, Chairperson of the Competition Council.
A public opinion survey conducted by the CC in 2024 revealed that only 18% of public procurers had considered seeking compensation for losses caused by competition law violations, despite 62% of respondents being aware of this possibility. Therefore, the CC will actively monitor the interest and actions of public procurers in seeking methodological support for identifying losses. The first year following the Competition Law amendments will primarily focus on educating public procurers. To assist in adapting to the new legal provisions, the CC will publish guidelines on evaluating damages and outlining the principles of collaboration between the CC and public procurers.