Competition Council does not see legal obstacles for Riga City Council to revoke terminated agreements with waste management companies

RIGA - The Competition Council does not see legal obstacles for the Riga City Council to recall terminated contracts on waste management, Competition Council's head Skaidrite Abraama told the press on Tuesday.

She said that there are legal regulations in the sector and legal regulations on competition. Besides, Latvia has resolved in the EU to ensure competition.

"If the Competition Council has made a decision, it is a legal regulation. All legislation should be viewed in the context. Of course, the Riga City Council has the right to turn to court," said Abrama.

As reported, Getlini Eko announced that CREB Riga is the winner of the tender worth EUR 686.3 million on waste management services in the Latvian capital for the coming 20 years.

In early June, Getlini Eko and CREB Riga registered joint-stock company Rigas Vides Pakalpojumi that was later renamed to Tiriga.

The Competition Council announced earlier that Clean R and Eco Baltia Vide had to report on the merger in the new company CREB Riga.

Now, the Latvian Competition Council has banned Tiriga waste management company from signing agreements with the residents of Riga.

Riga Mayor Olegs Burovs (Honor To Serve Riga) confirmed to LETA that the Competition Council has applied temporary regulations on the Riga City Council's cooperation with Tiriga.

"The Competition Council has ruled that the Riga City Council immediately, but not later than by September 12 annuls all waste management agreements signed between Tiriga and Riga residents. They propose that we should continue cooperation with the current four waste management operators, and theoretically it is a good proposal, but our lawyers say that it is not possible and in contradiction with normative acts," said Burovs.