Competition Council of Latvia

The Competition Council of Latvia (Konkurences padome) is the national regulatory body responsible for competition enforcement and market oversight, headquartered at Brivibas iela 55 in Riga's Centrs district, on one of the city's principal thoroughfares near the Latvian Ministry of Economics and the Riga City Council. With approximately 70 employees including a team of juristi and competition specialists, the Konkurences padome enforces the Konkurences likums (Competition Law), administers merger control proceedings, investigates cartel agreements and abuse of dominant position, and monitors advertising practices under the Reklamas likums (Advertising Law). The authority operates under the supervision of the Cabinet of Ministers through the Minister of Economy and cooperates closely with the European Commission under Regulation 1/2003 as a member of the European Competition Network (ECN). Legal professionals at the Competition Council conduct dawn raids and investigations, represent the authority before the Riga Administrative District Court (Rigas Administrativas apgabaltiesas) and the Supreme Court, participate in ECN case allocation, and draft regulatory proposals for the Saeima (Latvian Parliament). The authority also handles state aid assessments under EU rules and conducts market studies in key sectors.