THE COMPETITION COUNCIL LAUNCHES AN INVESTIGATION CONCERNING THE ACTIONS OF THE LITHUANIAN RAILWAY COMPANY LIETUVOS GELEŽINKELIAI, AB

The Competition Council decided to launch an investigation concerning the compliance of the actions of the Lithuanian railway company Lietuvos geležinkeliai, AB with the requirements of Article 9 of the Law on Competition of the Republic of Lithuania. The investigation was started on the basis of a suspicion that Lietuvos geležinkeliai, AB has been abusing its dominant position by applying to individual undertakings possibly dissimilar terms thereby placing them at different competitive conditions.

The Competition Council has been appealed by Klaipėdos konteinerių terminalas, UAB. The applicant requested the Competition Council to investigate a possible abuse of the dominant position by the Lithuanian railway company. The suspicion has been caused by the actions of Lietuvos geležinkeliai, AB that was applying an operational fee to the company Klaipėdos konteinerių terminalas, operating on the sidings owned by Lietuvos geležinkeliai, AB in the Klaipėda State Seaport. As claimed by the applicant the fee had not applied to the other undertakings (stevedoring companies) engaged in the same type of activities as the applicant and using the sidings of Lietuvos geležinkeliai, AB.

Having started the investigation the Competition Council will be investigating all circumstances related to the use by the undertakings of the sidings in the Klaipėda State Seaport. The duration of the investigation may reach up to 5 months.