Judicial review in competition cases in Croatia: Winning and losing arguments before the High Administrative Court of the Republic of Croatia

Abstract

The paper provides a systematic insight into judicial control of Croatian Competition Agency (CCA) decisions in Croatia. Its first part will explain how the applicable model of judicial control and CCA powers were changed over the years. The central part of the paper will be dedicated to the current model of judicial control of CCA decisions, to the powers of the High Administrative Court of Republic of Croatia (HACRC) and to the scope of judicial review in competition cases. In the last part of the paper, the author will present the results of a survey on the most successful and unsuccessful appeal arguments in competition cases before the HACRC in the five year period from 2015 until 2020. In its conclusion, the author will give a critical review of the quality and adequacy of the current model of judicial control in competition cases in Croatia, and will suggest changes that would, in the authors view, result in significant improvements.