Founded on the belief that consumers benefit from a healthy competitive environment, the government’s policy seeks to improve the system of competition and consumer protection, hones the methods of uncovering cartels and fights the infringement of consumer rights.

The policy combines the competition and consumer protection angles in a single document intended to underscore the synergy between the two as well as increase transparency and the state’s cohesive activities in these areas.

The policy document was produced by the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) but considers the activities of a host of other organisations, including sector regulators, the members of the Council of Ministers, auditors and other control organs, and NGOs, as well as the benefits that result from their cooperation and exchange of experience. It is the first of its kind to combine the Polish government’s strategy for growing competition and consumer protection policy.

Together with a sound legal-institutional environment, market competition is a key element of a properly functioning economy. That is why effectively and consistently eliminating illegal agreements and abuses of a dominant position along with scrupulously controlling takeover and merger activity are so important. However, competition is not a value in itself — its ultimate beneficiary is the consumer, who gains from the increased management efficiency, innovation, greater number of workplaces, lower prices, and the better choice of products and services that competition promotes. These benefits are among the fruits of a social market economy, which is in part founded on three principles of a competitive order.

• freedom to compete, or the right of enterprises to operate free of anti-competitive behaviour from others;

• freedom from intervention, or the absence of unreasonable state interference in competition;

• fair competition, or approaching other market players — competitors, customers and consumers alike — with good moral practices.

UOKiK President Adam Jasser summarises the Polish government’s policy, created to further prioritise the protection of competition and consumers: UOKiK’s mission is to act for the highest good of the consumer by effectively protecting competition and the interests and consumer’s rights. At the same time, respecting the principles of procedural justice in relation to enterprises is of the utmost importance. With the competition and consumer protection policy, we are introducing a way to reconcile and achieve these goals.

Additional information for the media:

Press Office, UOKiK
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warsaw
Phone.: +48 22 827 28 92, +48 22 55 60 314, +48 22 55 60 430
E-mail: [SCODE]Yml1cm9wcmFzb3dlQHVva2lrLmdvdi5wbA==[ECODE]