The Czech Office for the Protection of Competition (ÚOHS) has published its annual report for 2025, summarizing its activities and achievements in enforcing competition law. The report reveals that the authority imposed the highest fines in the last decade, totaling nearly half a billion Czech korunas, primarily for prohibited horizontal agreements.

Among the notable cases was a large cartel involving six suppliers of public contracts for the Railway Administration, which resulted in sanctions of nearly 130 million korunas. Additionally, 280 million korunas were provisionally imposed on voucher issuers. In total, ÚOHS issued ten decisions regarding prohibited agreements and resolved 77 cases related to merger control.

In the realm of public procurement, the number of administrative proceedings significantly increased, with 573 cases initiated in 2025, marking a 37% rise in cases started upon request. The authority aims to expedite decision-making, with the average duration of proceedings initiated by applicants reaching 42 days.

Chairman Petr Mlsna commented on the challenges faced in public procurement oversight, particularly regarding the setting of tender conditions and disputes over supplier qualifications. He noted that poor preparation of procurement processes often contributes to these issues.

Despite media focus on major contracts under review, ÚOHS interventions affect only 2-3% of public contracts awarded annually in the Czech Republic. A significant case involved the tender for the construction of a new nuclear source at the Dukovany Power Plant, which was upheld by an administrative court.

The authority also facilitated discussions regarding state aid notifications for the Dukovany project with the European Commission, alongside various other support measures. Hundreds of decisions were made in the new agenda concerning access to transport infrastructure, where ÚOHS played a mediating role between the Railway Administration and railway carriers.

In response to evolving economic conditions, ÚOHS has been implementing new technologies to enhance the detection of illegal activities and data analysis. The authority expanded its analytical capabilities by establishing a Chief Economist Department, which initiated two sector investigations in 2025, focusing on electric vehicle charging stations and mobile telecommunications services.