site.btaAntitrust Authority Counts on Sectoral Analyses for Early Detection of Problems in Key Industries

The Commission on Protection of Competition (CPC) is moving towards a proactive working model in which sectoral analyses serve as the main tool for early identification of problems in key sectors such as food, fuels, pharmaceuticals and public procurement, CPC Chair Rosen Karadimov said on Wednesday. He was presenting a report on the commission leadership's work in the period May 2025 – May 2026 during a BTA-hosted press conference in Sofia.

According to Karadimov, the CPC supervises markets with a combined annual turnover of EUR 23 billion. He said the commission functions as a regulator rather than a control body, focusing on analysis, prevention and active detection of market violations.

He said that during the reporting period, the CPC initiated 1,067 proceedings and drew up 1,530 written statements, including 768 decisions, 380 rulings and 382 orders. More than 600 alerts were received. At present there are 25 ongoing antitrust proceedings, 47 merger control proceedings and 25 unfair competition proceedings, as well as 3 proceedings under Chapter 7b of the Competition Protection Act.

With regard to anti-competitive and unfair trading practices, Karadimov stated that on the basis of the information collected, proceedings have been opened against the retail chains Kaufland and T-Market for possible unfair practices towards suppliers and producers, and a review has been launched of an already approved concentration in the dairy sector between Tirbul and the United Dairy Company.

Karadimov added that the CPC has focused efforts on uncovering cartels and bid-rigging in public procurement. Surprise on-site inspections were carried out at five companies after court authorization and with the cooperation of the Interior Ministry. The investigations were related to public procurement for hospital food, IT equipment and EU-funded projects. In two separate proceedings the commission has found that a total of seven companies participated in cartel practices.

In the pharmaceutical industry, an in-depth sectoral analysis has begun of the wholesale and retail markets for medicinal products, focusing on medicine shortages, parallel exports and the risk of market distortions. Karadimov said the results of the analysis are yet to be made public; at the same time, a conditional approval of a concentration in the pharmacy sector has been granted and an advocacy proceeding has been initiated on competition issues related to the supply of high-cost medicines for hospitals.

Regarding the fuel market, the CPC Chair reported that the commission is conducting monitoring and has opened an antitrust proceeding against companies from the Lukoil group. In the context of the complicated international environment, a preliminary study of the fuel market was carried out, covering production, imports, storage and wholesale and retail sales, with the results publicly presented and a package of 23 anti-crisis measures proposed.

Karadimov went on to discuss public procurement. He said the CPC has a dual role – as an appeal body overseeing the lawfulness of procedures, and as a competition authority uncovering cartels among participants in tender procedures. Over the past year the commission has examined 1,348 appeals under the Public Procurement Act. Karadimov reported a significant annual rise in alerts to the CPC – over 300%, from 155 in 2024 to 633 in 2025, including a sharp rise in alerts concerning antitrust violations and tender manipulation. Anonymous alerts have also risen by nearly 300%, from 167 to 653.

He emphasized that the commission operates with limited administrative capacity, with key specialized units comprising 29 staff in antitrust and concentrations and 14 staff in the area of unfair competition, while bearing responsibility for markets of vast economic scale.