Communication
The aim of the protection of market competition is primarily to create benefits for consumers and equal conditions for all entrepreneurs on the market, who, acting in accordance with the existing rules and competing on the market with the quality, price and innovation of their products and services, contribute to the overall development of the economy.
CCA opens proceedings and conducts dawn raids in public procurement of private security services
The Croatian Competition Agency (CCA) has initiated proceedings against STORM SECURITY d.o.o., with its registered office at Rubeši 176B, Kastav, and PROSIGUR USLUGE d.o.o., with its registered office at Cambierieva 2, Rijeka, to determine whether these bidders prevented, restricted or distorted competition by entering into a prohibited agreement within the meaning of Article 8 of the Competition Act, OG 79/09, 80/13, 41/21 and 155/23.
It is suspected that the bids submitted by Storm Security and Prosigur usluge in a competitive public procurement procedure conducted by the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund for the procurement of private security services were the result of collusion between the two undertakings.
For the purpose of establishing additional facts and circumstances and obtaining evidence capable of substantiating the indications that prompted the initiation of the proceedings in this case, the CCA, acting pursuant to its powers under the Competition Act and on the basis of an order issued by the High Administrative Court of the Republic of Croatia, conducted unannounced inspections at the business premises of Storm Security and Prosigur usluge.
An unannounced inspection is one of the most important investigative tools available to the CCA in proceedings concerning suspected infringements of competition law. Together with requests for information and other information-gathering measures, it constitutes a key instrument for obtaining evidence of possible infringements of competition rules.
The CCA will determine whether the undertakings concerned infringed competition rules within the meaning of Article 8 of the Competition Act based on the facts ultimately established in the proceedings.
In this regard, the CCA notes that neither the initiation of the proceedings nor the conduct of the unannounced inspections in this case can prejudice the CCA’s final decision in the matter.