North Macedonia's competition watchdog steps up enforcement in 2025 - Karanovic & Partners

North Macedonia's Commission for Protection of Competition last year intensified enforcement activities and took a tougher stance on breaches of competition law, Southeast Europe-focused law firm Karanovic & Partners said in a short analysis on Tuesday, citing the regulator's annual report submitted to the parliament.

In 2025, the authority adopted 21 infringement decisions, imposing total fines of around €827,000—a sharp rise from just three decisions and €32,000 in fines recorded in 2024.

The 2025 enforcement actions included five cases involving prohibited restrictive agreements, two related to abuse of dominant position, and five addressing gun-jumping offences. An additional 10 decisions concerned minor violations, such as failure to provide complete or accurate information.

Beyond core competition enforcement, the Commission also stepped up implementation of the Law on Unfair Trade Practices in Agricultural and Food Products, issuing seven decisions and fines totaling €86,250.

While some rulings remain under judicial review, the data points to a clear shift toward more assertive enforcement. The Commission's expanded activity across sectors signals a stronger willingness to penalize anti-competitive behaviour, underscoring the need for companies to strengthen compliance as regulatory scrutiny intensifies, Karanovic & Partners said.