THE COMPETITION COUNCIL EXTENDED THE APPLICATION OF INTERIM MEASURES TO RAUTAKIRJA OY

The sitting of the Competition Council passed a decision to obligate the undertaking controlled byRautakirja Oy – the Vilnius agency of UAB Lietuvos spauda to continue implementing the agreement concluded between the Vilnius agency of UAB Lietuvos spauda and UAB Medipresa of 1 July 2005 and accordingly continue the further enforcement of the agreement. The request to extend the application of the imposed measures was filed to the Competition Council by UAB Medipresa, and the competition authority decided to continue the enforcement of the measures for another three months.

On 27 October 2005, the Competition Council desided not oppose to Rautakirja Oy for implementing the concentrating deal by acquiring the 100 percent holding in the Vilnius agency of UAB Lietuvos spauda, having imposed certain conditions and obligations designed to prevent the creation of a dominant position or any more significant lessening of competition in the market concerned. On 30 November 2006, the Competition Council launched an investigation into the actions of Rautakirja Oy allegedly infringing the conditions and obligations attached to the implementation of the concentration deal and imposed by the Competition Council, and concerning a possible abuse of the dominant position. When passing the decision to launch the investigation the authority had decided to impose interim measures for a period of two months introduced to ensure that the existing competitive situation is maintained and any significant damage or irreparable consequences to other undertakings are prevented.

Having regard to the relevant circumstances and the finding that the situation in the course of the last two months have not essentially changed, the Competition Council decided that extension of interim measures is necessary in order to prevent any irreparable damage to the interests of UAB Medipresa and the publishers serviced by it.