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Antitrust law, often called competition law, protects fair competition so that businesses and consumers in Thivais benefit from better prices, quality, and innovation. Although enforcement bodies are based in Athens and Brussels, the rules apply equally to companies operating or selling in Thivais. Greek competition rules work alongside European Union law, especially Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The Hellenic Competition Commission is the national authority that investigates and penalizes cartels, abuses of dominance, and merger violations, while civil courts handle damages claims by victims of anticompetitive conduct.
In practice, this means that agreements between competitors to fix prices, share customers, rig bids, or limit output are prohibited, dominant firms must avoid exclusionary or exploitative conduct, and certain mergers require prior clearance before they can be completed. Local companies and trade associations in Thivais should maintain strong compliance programs to prevent costly infringements and to respond properly if the authorities investigate.
You are discussing cooperation with a competitor, such as joint purchasing, information exchanges, or allocation of sales territories, and you want to structure it lawfully to avoid cartel risks.
Your business is considering resale price maintenance, marketplace restrictions, selective distribution, or online platform rules for resellers and needs guidance under Greek and EU vertical agreement rules.
You plan to bid for a public contract in or near Thivais and want to avoid bid-rigging risks, including improper teaming arrangements or subcontracting that might be viewed as collusion.
You are negotiating a merger, acquisition, or joint venture and need to assess whether a mandatory notification to the Hellenic Competition Commission is required and how to manage the standstill obligation.
Your company received a request for information or dawn raid from the Hellenic Competition Commission or the European Commission and requires immediate response protocols that protect legal rights while ensuring cooperation.
You believe a dominant supplier or rival is abusing its position through exclusivity, refusal to supply, margin squeeze, or unfair pricing, and you want to file a complaint or seek interim measures.
Your company may have been involved in a cartel and you need urgent advice on whether to apply for leniency or a settlement to reduce fines and potential criminal exposure for individuals.
You suffered harm from anticompetitive conduct and want to pursue damages in civil court, including access to evidence, quantification of harm, and coordination with ongoing investigations.
You operate a trade association in Thivais and need bylaws, meeting protocols, and compliance training to prevent anticompetitive exchanges among members.
You are rolling out a compliance program, audits, and training for staff in Thivais to reduce risk and demonstrate a culture of compliance to authorities.
Prohibited agreements between competitors include price fixing, bid rigging, market and customer allocation, and output limitations. Such conduct is generally considered a serious infringement. Even informal understandings or exchanges of competitively sensitive information can violate the law.
Vertical agreements between manufacturers and distributors are assessed under EU and Greek rules. Practices like resale price maintenance are typically unlawful. Selective distribution, online sales restrictions, and parity clauses must be carefully designed within the scope of the EU vertical block exemption and related guidance.
Abuse of dominance occurs when a firm with substantial market power engages in exclusionary or exploitative practices, such as predatory pricing, exclusive dealing, tying, refusal to supply without objective justification, or unfair trading conditions. Dominance depends on market structure, not just market shares.
Merger control requires prior notification of certain concentrations when turnover thresholds are met. Parties must observe a standstill obligation, meaning they cannot implement the transaction before clearance. The Hellenic Competition Commission reviews the deal and can approve, impose remedies, or prohibit it. Thresholds and filing forms change over time, so parties should confirm current requirements early in the deal timeline.
Investigative powers of the Hellenic Competition Commission include unannounced inspections, requests for information, interviews, and the review of electronic data. The authority can adopt commitments, settlement decisions, or infringement decisions with fines. Leniency is available for businesses that self-report and cooperate in cartel cases, and there are procedures for settlement that can reduce fines.
Sanctions can be significant. Companies face fines that can reach a material percentage of their turnover, daily penalties for non-compliance with orders, and reputational harm. Individuals may also face financial and, in serious cases, criminal consequences under Greek law. Trade associations can be fined for members misconduct facilitated through the association.
Private enforcement allows victims to sue for full compensation in Greek civil courts. Greek law implementing the EU Damages Directive provides rules on disclosure of evidence, limitation periods, burden of proof, and joint and several liability, with certain protections for leniency recipients and small and medium enterprises.
Public procurement is a high-risk area. Collusion in tenders can lead to severe fines, damages claims, and exclusion from future public contracts. Companies bidding in Thivais should run robust antitrust checks on any teaming or subcontracting arrangements.
Compliance expectations include tailored policies, pre-approval processes for competitor contacts, training, dawn raid preparedness, and internal audits. Early detection through compliance can enable timely remediation and, where appropriate, cooperation with authorities.
Price fixing, bid rigging, market or customer allocation, and output restrictions are considered hard core cartels and are almost always illegal. Even sharing future pricing plans, detailed costs, or customer-specific information with competitors can be unlawful.
As a rule, suppliers cannot fix the resale price at which distributors must sell. Recommended or maximum resale prices may be acceptable if they do not operate as fixed or minimum prices. Any pressure or incentives that effectively fix resale prices are likely unlawful.
Yes, but avoid competitively sensitive topics like prices, costs, margins, future strategies, customer lists, or specific bids. Use agendas, take minutes, and consult counsel if discussions may touch on sensitive subjects. If a discussion drifts into risky territory, leave and have your departure recorded.
Notification is mandatory when specific turnover thresholds are met. If your deal could affect markets in Greece and involves sizeable revenues, seek legal advice early. Implementing a notifiable transaction before clearance breaches the standstill obligation and can trigger fines.
Officials can arrive without prior notice, secure premises, copy documents and emails, and interview staff. You should cooperate, maintain a calm and respectful approach, ensure legal counsel is contacted immediately, and follow an established dawn raid protocol.
Leniency can provide full immunity or significant fine reductions for the first applicant that discloses a cartel and cooperates. Timing and the quality of evidence are critical. Get urgent, confidential legal advice before making any approach to the authority.
Timelines vary based on case complexity, evidence, and procedural steps. Complex cartel and dominance cases can take years from opening to decision. Mergers can be reviewed more quickly, with simple cases cleared faster and complex cases undergoing in-depth review.
Yes. Businesses and consumers harmed by anticompetitive conduct can seek full compensation, including actual loss and lost profits. Greek law provides for access to evidence and recognizes final infringement decisions by competition authorities as strong proof in follow-on actions.
Fines consider the gravity and duration of the infringement, the value of sales, and mitigating or aggravating factors. Settlement and leniency can reduce fines. Cooperation, compliance improvements, and remedial actions may also influence outcomes.
Yes. EU competition rules apply when conduct may affect trade between EU member states. Greek and EU law are applied in parallel, and the Hellenic Competition Commission coordinates with the European Commission and other national authorities when appropriate.
Hellenic Competition Commission - Independent authority enforcing Greek competition law, issuing guidelines, decisions, and merger control notices. Provides information on leniency, settlements, and procedural rights.
European Commission Directorate General for Competition - EU level enforcement of cartels, abuse of dominance, and large mergers, plus guidance relevant to companies active across borders.
European Competition Network - Platform for cooperation among EU national competition authorities that share practices and coordinate investigations.
Government Gazette of the Hellenic Republic - Official source for published laws, regulations, and certain administrative decisions relevant to competition law.
Hellenic Single Public Procurement Authority - Guidance and oversight in public procurement, including tools and notices relevant to preventing bid rigging.
Local civil and administrative courts serving Boeotia and the wider region - Venues for appeals of administrative decisions and for private damages actions.
Business and industry chambers in Boeotia - Useful for compliance seminars and referrals to local professionals with competition law experience.
Preserve evidence immediately if you suspect an issue. Suspend any potentially unlawful coordination, secure relevant documents and emails, and implement a hold notice to prevent deletion of data.
Engage experienced antitrust counsel. Ask for an initial risk assessment tailored to your activities in Thivais, including market definition, exposure analysis, and response strategies for any inquiries from authorities.
Decide on cooperation options. If a cartel risk exists, evaluate leniency or settlement pathways promptly. If you are a victim, consider whether to file a complaint with the Hellenic Competition Commission or pursue damages in court.
For transactions, confirm merger control applicability early. Build filing preparation and the standstill obligation into your deal timetable and ensure clean team protocols for due diligence.
Strengthen compliance. Roll out or update policies, training, competitor contact rules, and dawn raid procedures. Conduct targeted audits of sales, procurement, and trade association participation.
Plan communications. Centralize interactions with authorities through counsel, brief senior management, and prepare staff for interviews or information requests.
This guide is informational only and not legal advice. For specific questions about antitrust in Thivais, consult a qualified lawyer who practices Greek and EU competition law.
