On January, 8th 2021, the Hellenic Competition Commission (“HCC”) has decided ex officio to launch a market investigation in the constructions sector pursuant to Article 11 Law 3959/2011. Press Release January 8, 2021.
On April, 8th 2021, the HCC has issued its first interim report with respect to the conditions of competition in this sector and launched its first public consultation lasting 30 days and inviting interested parties to comment.
The interim report focused on the market structure of the sector and proceeded to the application of the theory of (horizontal) common ownership. In particular, it was found that the joint horizontal participation of a specific fund in the two largest construction undertakings in Greece may lead to unilateral and coordinated effects. Moreover there has been a significant concentration of the construction industry in the last decade with increasing barriers to entry in some of its sub markets.
Other potential issues to competition were identified in the existing legal framework, taking into account the concerns expressed by companies in the industry and the preliminary investigation of HCC, such as: regulating abnormally low offers, allowing a construction joint venture after the selection of the bidder, changes in contract award criteria, the classification criteria of the Register of Contractors of Public Works (ΜΗ.ΕΕ.Δ.Ε), joint bidding and the more intensive and the wider use of Public Private Partnerships and concessions and prior analysis of their impact on competition.
The interim report is available here (in Greek) and here the related press release.
The first public consultation will last from 08-4-2021 until 07-5-2021. Interested parties are invited to submit their comments (in editable format) to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. until 07-5-2021.
Please note that any submission beyond this deadline will not be accepted.
For a summary of the views submitted, see here (in Greek).
Launch of the Second Public Consultation from 10-08-2022 until 14-10-2022.
Market Investigation in the Construction Sector
Latest Updates
- 07 October 2022 - Extension of the deadline for the 2nd public consultation, more here.
- 23 September 2022 - 2nd Extension of the deadline for the public consultation, more here.
- 09 September 2022 - Extension of the deadline for the public consultation, more here.
- 12 August 2022 - Lunch of second public consultation, more here.
- 07 April 2021 – Publication of the HCC Interim Report and Launch of the First Public Consultation, more here.
- 08 January 2021 - HCC Decision to launch the market investigation, more here.
Back to menu
Q & A
- General Questions: Purpose of the Market Investigation in the Construction Sector
The HCC has launched this market investigation because there appears to be a lack of effective competition in the construction sector and in particular in the market for public works, which cannot be remedied with the application of Articles 1,2 and 5-10 Law 3959/2011.
Following the publication of the first interim report finding that there appears to be a lack of effective competition in the construction sector and in particular in the market for public works, the HCC launches the first public consultation. The first public consultation will last 30 days.
Following the completion of the first public consultation and after taking into account the comments received, the HCC will issue its second interim report proposing competition-enhancing remedies. The second interim report will also be put to public consultation lasting another (minimum) 30 days.
The final decision of HCC will be published after the completion of the two public consultations with a decision horizon in 4-5 months at the latest.
According to the interim report, in the construction sector and in particular in the market for public works, there is a lack of effective competition, which cannot be remedied with the application of Articles 1,2 and 5-10 Law 3959/2011.
The interim report focused on the market structure of the sector and proceeded to the application of the theory of (horizontal) common ownership. In particular, it was found that the joint horizontal participation of a specific fund in the two largest construction undertakings in Greece may lead to unilateral and coordinated effects. Moreover there has been a significant concentration of the construction industry in the last decade with increasing barriers to entry in some of its sub markets.
Other potential issues to competition were identified in the existing legal framework, taking into account the concerns expressed by companies in the industry and the preliminary investigation of HCC, such as: regulating abnormally low offers, allowing a construction joint venture after the selection of the bidder, changes in contract award criteria, the classification criteria of the Register of Contractors of Public Works (ΜΗ.ΕΕ.Δ.Ε), joint bidding and the more intensive and the wider use of Public Private Partnerships and concessions and prior analysis of their impact on competition.
The HCC’s team worked closely with a group of external experts, under the leadership of widely acknowledged for his contribution in the common ownership literature professor Jose Azar.
Using quantitative estimates on the effective number of firms and a dataset of large public works tenders, the HCC examined the impact of eliminating common ownership, as measured by the number of discounts/offers, submitted in the context of each tender, was substantiated.
The structural problems identified in the construction sector and any other issue discussed in the interim report.
- Public Consultation
The first public consultation will last from 08-04-2021 until 07-05-2021. Interested parties are invited to submit their comments (in editable format) providing their name to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. until 07-5-2021.
Please note that any submission beyond this deadline will not be accepted.
You are invited to submit your comments (in editable format) providing your name to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. until 22-4-2021.
Please note that any submission beyond this deadline will not be accepted.
The comments will be published on the HCC dedicated website indicating the identity of the legal person submitting them. The submission of the views of a legal entity participating in the public consultation is made by its legal representative. Comments by natural persons not representing a specific institution or undertaking will be published anonymously, unless the author expressly consents to the mentioning of his / her name and / or contact details.
If you wish your comments or part thereof to be treated as confidential, please make a statement to that regard.
In particular, you should clearly identify the part of your comments that is confidential and, if possible, provide it in a separate annex. The HCC treat this information as strictly confidential.
See Announcement of the Competition Commission of 13.1.2015 regarding the classification of confidential data and the manner of submitting a non-confidential version of documents (in Greek).
Until 07-5-2021 at the latest.
Please note that any submission beyond this deadline will not be accepted.
Participation in the public consultation is open to anyone who is able to provide useful information and comments on any or all of the issues that are the subject of the market investigation in the construction sector. Any person can take part in the public consultation, regardless of the invocation of a legal interest.
We would greatly appreciate participation by:
- constructing companies undertaking private and public works of any size.
- companies operating at any level and market of the construction sector, private or public works
- business consultants, law firms and companies, economists
- representatives of the university community and researchers
- consumer associations or individual consumers
Back to menu
Procedural matters
The HCC, with the aim of protecting the safety and health of workers and collaborating citizens, as well as ensuring the smooth operation of the Services and ensuring the public purposes it performs and serves, stipulates the following for the period from Thursday, 08/04/2021 until Friday, 07/05/2021:
Submission of documents in person or by mail will no longer be possible. Citizens & Businesses are required to use only the following e-mail addresses:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for participating in this consultation,
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for submitting documents to the HCC,
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for submitting notices of concentrations,
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for filing complaints,
or through the Hellenic Competition Commission's website form for submitting general questions or information requests.
Communication with the Directorate-General can be possible either by e-mail from the list of HCC staff, or by the following telephone numbers:
- Protocol: +30 210 - 8809139 or +30 210-8809331
- Directorate of Administrative & Financial Support: +30 210 - 8809209
- A' Operational Directorate: +30 210 - 8809236
- B' Operational Directorate: +30 210 - 8809217
- Directorate of Legal Services: +30 210 - 8809248
- Commission
- Office of the President, Vice President and Rapporteurs: +30 210 - 8809202
- HCC's Secretariat: +30 210 - 8809215 or +30 210-8809212 (for issues of organization of hearings and issues of the Plenary Session of the Commission)
The HCC will return with newer relevant announcements if required by the circumstances.
Back to menu
Timeframe
- 08.01.2021 - Launch of the market investigation in the construction sector
- 07.04.2021 - Publication of the first interim report discussing the lack of effective competition according to Article 11 Law 3959/2011
- 08.04.2021 - Launch of the first public consultation lasting 30 days and inviting interested parties to submit comments
- 07.05.2021 - Last day to submit comments to the first public consultation
- 10.08.2022 - Launch of the second public consultation lasting 30 days and inviting interested parties to submit comments
- 14.10.2022 - Last day to submit comments to the second public consultation
Back to menu
Communication
If you have any questions, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
You can submit your comments (in editable format) at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
For press inquiries you can contact us at +30 210 – 8809202.
According to Article 41(2) Law 3959/2011, as in force (without prejudice to Article 37 (2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure) officials of the Directorate-General for Competition are required to keep confidential the confidential information of undertakings, associations of undertakings or other natural or legal persons, which they receive on the occasion of the service (such as sales, prices, trade policies etc.). See also the relevant provisions in the HCC Rules of Procedure and the HCC Communication on privacy.
The Personal Data sent to the HCC will be used exclusively for the promotion, support and implementation of HCC responsibilities. Whenever HCC collects and uses Personal Data, it does so in the context of the implementation of the main public mission and its purposes, that is, to be able to answer your questions and contact you about anything else related to HCC activities.
The HCC will not disclose to any third party and will not use your Personal Data in collaboration with it, unless it has your clear consent. More information can be found here.
