1. Crisis and Competition Enforcement Lithuanian Style Šarūnas Keserauskas, Chairman, Competition Council 28 May 2011, Athens

2. Overview Crisis in figures Effect of crisis on firms Effect of crisis on the Lithuanian NCA

3. Crisis in figures I GDP: contracting by 14 to 15.9 percent in each quarter of 2009 compared to the preceding quarter State budget revenue (excluding foreign financial assistance): –2008: EUR 6.72 (5.71) bn –2009: EUR 5.99 (4.28) bn –2010: EUR 5.76 (4.21) bn

4. Crisis in figures II Average monthly salary (gross): –2008 4Q: EUR 672 –2010 1Q: EUR 588 Population: –2008: 3.35 million –2011: 3.05 million (May 2011 population census)

5. EFFECT OF CRISIS ON FIRMS

6. Effect of crisis on firms No crisis cartels observed Rising prices have fuelled calls for price regulation More requests for reduction of fines

7. Reduction of fines 2009-2010 6 Cases with fine reductions due to the crisis: –48 undertakings benefited from the reductions –EUR 227,490 overall reduction 10% non-individualised reductions in 5 cases 20% non-individualised reduction in 1 case due to severe decline in the sector (Car Rental) No grounds found for individualised “crisis reductions”

8. THE LITHUANIAN NCA EFFECT OF CRISIS ON

9. NCA budget, EUR (m) YearTotalSalaries 20081.330.86 20091.050.72 20100.870.61

10. NCA staff monthly salaries, EUR (gross) YearChairmanTop-level expert Mid-ranking expert 20082,1631,375917 20091,7831,146802 20101,473962743

11. NCA spending on technical means and staff training, EUR YearTechnical means Staff training 200818,8352,234 20096,8691,670 20100156

12. RECORD ENFORCEMENT

13. Case statistics 2008 – 2010 YearArt. 5 decisions (anticompetitive agreements) Art. 9 decisions (abuse of dominance) Mergers 2008Infringement: 3 Non-infringement: 3 Infringement: 1 Non-infringement: 1 55 2009Infringement: 3 Commitments: 1 Infringement: 1 Non-infringement: 2 46 2010Infringement: 6 Non-infringement: 1 Infringement: 3 Commitments: 1 Non-infringement: 2 37

14. IT ALL MEAN? WHAT DOES

15. More for less? Don’t jump to the wrong conclusion: cutting the NCA’s budget does not necessarily lead to better enforcement! Crisis did focus the NCA’s mind: –The Chairman stopped being driven by a chauffeur –More attention to cartels But the authority is running on fumes

16. Much more for a little bit more! Setting prioritisation principles Main focus on: –Anti-cartel enforcement –Competition advocacy Adequate and independent budget