Detecting anticompetitive conduct

2026-07-22

Corruption is a big barrier to competition, discouraging genuine competitors from bidding for a contract in cases where they are apprehensive of unfair competition or are unwilling, or unable, to pay bribes. The most common intersection of corruption and anticompetitive conduct occurs in government procurement when bid rigging can be combined with or facilitated by bribery of public officials or unlawful kickbacks. From this perspective, there is a constant concern at DGA level for real progress in preventing and combating corruption in public administration, including the public procurement and management of European funds. Through specific investigative activities focused on the phenomenon of corruption, the AGD can become one of the national authorities outside the field of competition that can identify and signal risks and vulnerabilities in competition. Promoting strengthened competition policies and improving the functioning of the internal market is an objective that can be more easily achieved by stepping up synergies of investigation and cooperation between the national competent authority and the AGD through the investigative contribution manifested in connection with the acts of corruption. In the management of corruption offenses, AGD staff require a wide range of expertise and enhanced skills to conduct investigations, develop complex analytical and strategic products. In this respect, the specialized training activities and exchanges of experience proposed to be carried out within the project are necessary to learn the latest methods and techniques that meet the current challenges in the field of competition. The proposed project aims to increase the awareness in the field of competition of AGD specialists, thus creating the premises for detecting and signaling any anticompetitive practices identified during the activity of investigating corruption offences.

Romania

2025-12-15