KSB has successfully represented Czech railway carrier Leo Express in a complaint filed against competitor Ceske Drahy before the European Commision.
Based on a complaint prepared by the KSB team, the European Commission began inspecting the Czech railway market as early as 2016 after carrying out inspections at the premises of Ceske Drahy. On October 30, 2020, the Commission concluded in its Statement of Objections that Ceske Drahy abused its dominant position by below-cost pricing in the period between 2011 and 2019. The aim of this anticompetitive conduct was to harm its competitors, including Leo Express.
The Statement of Objections is a procedural step that precedes the final decision of the European Commission.
European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said, “Competition in the rail passenger transport sector can drive prices down and service quality up to the benefit of consumers. It benefits the environment too as travelers shift to rail in line with the Green Deal objectives. In the present case, we have concerns that Ceske Drahy was involved in predatory pricing which is against the EU competition rules.”
KSB’s team consisted of Partners Pavel Dejl and Sylvie Sobolova and Lawyers Martin Vrab and Hana Dejlova.
KSB has been representing Leo Express in its claims against Cesky Drahy for many years, including a 2014 unfair competition claim lodged against it in the Czech courts (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on July 9, 2014).