How to improve trust toward Polish Competition and Consumer Authority by applying the principles of fundamental rights? New answers to a known question, new questions to known answers

The powers of investigation and the powers of sanction granted to the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK), in order to ensure consumer welfare as well as free market mechanism, are significant. While performing its mission, UOKiK have to respect the principles of procedural fairness in relationships with entrepreneurs. Although, standards of entrepreneur rights in UOKiK proceedings have received much attention and has been fiercely debated at the academic, analysis of UOKiK activities of last years (2016-2020) as well as in-depth interviews with authority officials and market participants, show new problems pertaining to ensuring appropriate course of administrative proceedings. Particular attention will be focused on tougher punishment policy and increased number of down-raids, which have the greatest impact on the economic freedom of entrepreneurs.