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What is the main role of the Portuguese Competition Authority?

AdC is an independent administrative agency whose purpose is to defend competition, to the benefit of citizens. It’s one of the top 8 Competition Authorities around the world. 

Ano de criação
Year of creation
2003
Nº de funcionários
Number of workers
96

Mission, values and vision of AdC

Ícone missão da AdC
To investigate more, better, and faster
Ícone visão da AdC
Be a reference as a public service provider and be able to deliver value to society

Strategic and Operational Goals

Martelo
Detect, investigate, and sanction all anti-competitive practices
Relógio
Ensure efficient and timely merger control
Pessoas
Promote competition in all economic sectors
Balança
Raise awareness in all society about competition rules and its benefits
Transparência
Promote transparency among all stakeholders
Bola
Strengthen international cooperation, both bilaterally and multilaterally

The Board

Nuno Cunha Rodrigues
President
Nuno Cunha Rodrigues
Miguel Moura Silva
Board member
Miguel Moura e Silva
Ana Sofia Rodrigues
Board member
Ana Sofia Rodrigues

Priorities for 2026

  • To investigate the most harmful anticompetitive practices, such as cartels, and to optimize resources for the ex officio detection of infringements;
  • To ensure a timely and robust assessment of concentrations between undertakings, with updated guidance on;
  • To enhance the use of innovative IT tools, including artificial intelligence, for the detection of unlawful practices and to support investigations carried out by the AdC teams;
  • To promote the role of competition in fostering contestability in digital markets, particularly in the generative AI sector, in close cooperation with the European Union;
  • To continue engagement with strategic sectors of the national economy in order to raise awareness of the benefits of competition and compliance with competition law;
  • To strengthen interinstitutional dialogue to foster the development of pro-competitive public policies that promote competition and economic growth.

Read the Competition Policy Priorities for 2026.The AdC’s performance indicators and goals are materialized at SCORE – Objectives and Results Management System. Consult the AdC’s 2025 SCORE [in Portuguese].

Learn about last year's activity

Read the 2023 Activity Report [in Portuguese]. Know the main achievements in 2023.

Autoridade da Concorrência

AdC in numbers

From 2017 to 2024, the Competition Authority’s activity led to numerous decisions and recommendations that contributed to economic development and consumer welfare.

64
decisions on anticompetitive practices
Martelo
455
decisions on merger control
Balança
185
sector enquiries, opinions and recommendations
Balão

*last update: 2nd quarter 2024