Antitrust Limitation Periods in the Czech Republic in the Light of Recent CJEU Case-Law

Abstract

This contribution focuses on the issue of the limitation of liability in Czech competition law. Its main aim is to find an answer to the question of whether the Czech statute of limitations is regulated in compliance with EU competition law or not. In doing so, the recent case law of the CJEU on the practical application of antitrust limitation periods, in particular the Judgements in Cases C 308/19 and C 450/19, will also be considered. The authors will specifically look at whether the starting point of the limitation period in Czech law as interpreted by the Czech Office for the Protection of Competition (OPC) and Czech administrative courts is laid down in accordance with EU law and the case law of the CJEU. Further, the authors will assess whether the grounds for suspending and interrupting the limitation period in Czech law are determined in accordance with EU law and whether the grounds for suspending and interrupting the limitation period are interpreted by the OPC and administrative courts in accordance with EU law and the relevant case law of the CJEU.

Keywords: antitrust enforcement, antitrust limitation periods, CJEU antitrust case law, Czech competition law