The Competition Commission, with support from the OECD and the DG REFORM of the European Commission, held two specialized seminars focused on preventing distortions in public tenders.
According to a press release, these seminars were part of the European project “Combating collusion in public contracts.” They took place in Athens on September 24 and 26, 2025, aiming to enhance institutional compliance and promote fair competition.
This initiative is part of a cross-border program across six member states: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Romania, and Greece. The program aims to:
- showcase best practices for preventing public tender distortions,
- strengthen collaboration among judicial, administrative, and supervisory authorities, and
- protect public resources and market function.
Seminar for the private sector
The seminar on September 24, titled “Enhancing private sector compliance to prevent the distortion of public tenders,” took place in the plenary hall of the Competition Commission.
It attracted representatives from business and professional associations, chambers of commerce, and sectors such as health, construction, energy, IT, food, and catering. Commission officials discussed their powers and tools for preventing collusive practices, highlighted significant recent CC decisions, and emphasized the importance of the Leniency Program and damage claims.
The workshop covered: - permissible and prohibited bidding practices,
- leniency and settlement programs,
- anonymous reporting mechanisms,
- and developing effective compliance programs.
Participants engaged in a hypothetical scenario of potential cartel collaboration to apply their knowledge practically.
Seminar for judicial officials
The second seminar, “Enhancing judicial oversight to combat the distortion of public tenders,” occurred on September 26 in the “Lampros Margaritis” auditorium of the Ministry of Justice, aimed at educating judicial officials on identifying, assessing, and enforcing sanctions in cartel cases. Deputy Minister of Justice, Ioannis Bougas, opened the event, stressing the need for prompt and decisive action against public tender distortions.
The Chairwoman of the Commission, Irini Sharp, remarked that the CC operates independently and consistently to ensure transparency and legality in tenders. She underscored the importance of cooperation with the judiciary and other competent authorities for safeguarding the public interest and fostering trust in institutions.
Notable contributions included Judge Ioannis Dimitrakopoulos of the EU General Court, who discussed key legal issues regarding proof in cartel cases and the importance of indirect evidence. EU Court rapporteur Alfredos Theodorakopoulos shared EU case law examples, emphasizing the need for substantiated interpretations and the cooperation framework between the CC and judicial authorities. (2/10/25)
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