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Hungary: EC threatens nation for interfering with antitrust probe

By  |  April 24, 2014

The European Commission is reportedly threatening legal action against Hungary for allegations of interfering with an EU antitrust investigation.

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    According to reports, Hungary Prime Minster Viktor Orban halted an antitrust investigation into government plans to fix watermelon prices last April. Domestic watermelon growers protested cheaper imports by smashing their product outside supermarkets, causing the government to spark a floor price agreement.

    The new rules lead to an antitrust probe, which was abruptly ended after the Hungarian parliament passed legislation that blocked the nation’s competition regulator from punishing agricultural cartels unless approved to do so by the ministry of agriculture.

    Hungary now has two months to revise its law, European Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said, finding that Hungary’s actions were not in line with EU competition law.

    Full Content: European Voice

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