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Finnish Competition Authorities

Regional State Administrative Agencies, the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (the FCCA), the Market Court and the Supreme Administration Court deal with restrictions of competition. 

The FCCA, that is an office under the governance of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, has the duty to intervene in harmful restrictions of competition that are against the Competition Act and EU competition legislation and to ensure the economic competition in Finland. In addition, the office monitors corporate acquisitions. An open and effective competition as well as an equal competition situation are ensured by furthering competition and competition control. 

  • The FCCA investigates both on its own initiative and on request restrictions on competition that are material and harmful to economic competition. In addition, as necessary, the FCCA takes actions to prohibit such restrictions and makes proposals to the Market Court to impose penalty payments. The Regional State Administrative Agencies assist the FCCA particularly in investigating and supervising territorial restrictions of competition. 

  • The FCCA also investigates mergers and acquisitions within its authority and makes proposals to the Market Court to prohibit such or to impose penalties if appropriate. 

  • As regard furthering competition, the FCCA makes initiatives to annul provisions, rules and regulations that restrict competition and gives opinions on legislative proposals. 

  • In respect of EU matters, the FCCA participates in the handling of competition restrictions and company acquisition matters pending before the Commission and in other co-operation regarding the competitive situation. 

The European Commission and the competition authorities of EU member states form the European Competition Network (ECN) as of 1 May 2004. Along with the ECN the co-operation between the competition authorities of EU countries has increased considerably. The authorities co-operate also among European Competition Authorities (ECA) and International Competition Network (ICN) and with the Baltic countries and Russia. 

Decisions made by the FCCA can be appealed to the Finnish Market Court as the first court of appeal. The Market Court decides as the first instance matters relating to prohibitions of mergers and acquisitions and penalty payments. 

Decisions of the Market Court may, subject to certain restrictions, be appealed to the Supreme Administrative Court. 

The FCCA applies the Competition Act and the Administrative Procedure Act in its operation. In their proceedings, the Market Court and the Supreme Administrative Court apply the Competition Act and the Administrative Judicial Procedure Act.