The competition authority has given conditional clearance to the Polish branch of the Carrefour group to acquire Ahold Polska, a major player in the superstores sector.

Poland's new competition and consumer protection act increases merger thresholds, amends financial penalties for infringement of consumer interests and abandons proceedings launched following the request of a third party

The president of the Office of Electronic Communication has fined telecom provider Tele2 Polska 1 million zlotys – around €250,000 – for failing to provide potential customers with information about its contracts

The head of Poland's competition authority has announced major plans to amend the competition law

Last year, Poland's competition authority launched proceedings against Polifarb Cieszyn-WrocBaw, a paint producer, as well as the owner of seven major stores offering building materials and home improvement products: Bricomarche, Castorama, Leroy Merlin, Nomi, Obi, Platforma and Praktiker.

With recent rulings by the Polish Supreme Court, the old debate seems to be in the closing stage, say Jerzy Baehr and Aleksander Stawicki of WierciDski, KwieciDski, Baehr

The European Commission may start infringement proceedings against the Polish government, for interfering in competition decisions.

A major Polish coal producer has been fined 8 million zlotys

In September 2005, the Competition Authority found that five undertakings had been involved in ‘bid rigging’ for street and square cleaning services in Poznan, western Poland.

The largest Polish railway carrier has been fined for an illegal market agreement.

The increase in the competence and the duties of the Polish Competition Authority over the last few years, resulting in staff overload, may have a negative impact on its core activities, in particular on the effective pursuit of hard-core infringements of competition. Malgorzata Szwaj & Mariusz Blaszczyk Linklaters Warsaw

The Polish competition authority’s recent investigation into an alleged cartel in the paint industry provides more proof that it is ready to use its most deadly weapon-dawn raids.

Following its accession to the European Union, Poland has amended its Competition Act to comply with EU competition regulations and to facilitate effective enforcement.

On 1 May, Poland will join the European Union. PHILIPPA WARD looks at how the regime that enforces competition in the largest eastern European economy is managing the changes

Dr Cezary Banasinski, Chairman of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection, talks to PHILIPPA WARD about the changing role of the authority in light of Poland’s forthcoming accession to the EU