The Hungarian Competition Authority finds for the first time that mere negotiations concerning a draft consortium agreement can qualify as a hardcore cartel (Alcufer)

On 26 July the Hungarian Competition Authority published its first ever cartel settlement decision which granted a 10% reduction from the fine to a settling party. The decision found that already the mere fact of negotiating with competitors a draft consortium agreement containing restrictive terms can amount to a cartel violation. 1. The decision of the Competition Authority The case concerned a proposed horizontal cooperation between three competitors active in the waste management business. Alcufer, the Fe-Group and Jász-Plasztik are three