The Hellenic Competition Commission unanimously condemns the press releases and the posts on social media that took place with regard to its meeting of 25-05-2021 on the case of the ex-officio investigation in the press distribution sector, and in which the information/evidence provided to the participant as well as personal data of witnesses in the relevant oral hearing were reproduced, in violation of article 5 par. 2 of the Regulation for the Operation and Management of the Competition Commission (Government Gazette Issue B’ 54/16.1.2013), according to which “the meetings of the Commission are not public”.

Furthermore, the HCC confirms that it takes all the necessary legal measures to prevent any attempt to influence persons/witnesses participating in the oral hearings of the HCC, which may serve to intimidate other potential witnesses into attending the proceedings before HCC. In addition the HCC guarantees the right conduct of the proceedings before it and expressly reserves the right to exercise all of its rights before any competent authority arising from the above actions.