The Antimonopoly Office of the Slovak Republic (AMO) has imposed fines totaling €1,098,200 on four undertakings for collusion in a public tender for industrial photovoltaic equipment. In its first-instance decision of 29 January 2026, the authority concluded that RASEMA s.r.o., M – D – J, spol. s r.o., and SIMA plus Krompachy, s.r.o. coordinated their conduct to ensure the victory of a pre-agreed bidder, with the contracting authority BarCom spol. s r.o. acting as a facilitator of the cartel.
The project was intended to be financed from EU Structural and Investment Funds under the Operational Programme Quality of the Environment. However, due to shortcomings indicating a breach of competition rules, the relevant bodies refused to grant EU funding.
The AMO based its findings on email communication obtained during inspections and on similarities in the tender documentation submitted by the bidders. In addition to financial penalties, the authority imposed a three-year ban on participation in public procurement on three undertakings, including the contracting authority.
The decision is not yet final and may be appealed. The AMO also reiterated the availability of its leniency programme, which allows full immunity or significant fine reductions for companies that cooperate, as well as the possibility of settlement, under which fines in cartel cases may be reduced by up to 30 percent.