Romania’s Competition Council won yesterday the lawsuit initiated by the telecom player Orange, which wanted to have a EUR 35 million competition fine cancelled.

The Bucharest Court of Appeal decided to maintain the value of the fine, according to judicial sources cited by local Mediafax. However, the decision can be appealed at the High Court of Cassation and Justice.

In 2011, the Competition Council fined the telecom operators Orange and Vodafone with EUR 34.8 million, respectively EUR 28.3 million for abuse of dominant position. The investigation began in 2006, following a complaint submitted by SC Netmaster Communications SRL. Netmaster was one of the alternative providers of fixed telephony services in Romania starting 2003, when the market liberalization began.

In May 2011, Orange and Vodafone won the lawsuits for having the decision of the Competition Council suspended. However, three years later, the High Court of Cassation and Justice sent the case back in court.

editor@romania-insider.com