Romania’s Competition Council has launched a major antitrust investigation into the school transportation sector, conducting unannounced inspections at the headquarters of three domestic companies. The targeted firms include Aveuro Internațional SRL, C&I Eurotrans XXI SRL, and Amperio Energy SRL. The surprise raids are part of a broader probe into the suspected rigging of public tenders organized by multiple county councils for the procurement of electric minibuses for students, which are funded by European Union resources via the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).
The antitrust watchdog’s investigation extends beyond Romanian borders to include a fourth company, QEV Technologies S.L., based in Spain. Authorities suspect that the four companies formed a cartel to manipulate public bidding processes by dividing the market and fixing sales prices. This alleged collusion ensured that contracts were awarded to a predetermined bidder at prices artificially inflated above standard market rates. The probe was triggered following investigative media reports and actionable data forwarded by the Control Body of the Ministry of Investments and European Projects (MIPE).
Authorized by the Bucharest Court of Appeal, these unannounced inspections are a standard procedural step to secure essential documents and evidence necessary to clarify the alleged anti-competitive practices. The Competition Council emphasized that these actions do not imply a premature judgment regarding the guilt of the involved companies. If the suspected antitrust violations are proven, the firms face severe financial penalties of up to 10% of their annual turnover. However, under the regulator’s leniency program, companies that cooperate fully with the authority can secure total immunity or substantial reductions in their fines.
