Athens, October 23, 2025 — The Hellenic Competition Commission (HCC) has decided to prioritize and assign to a rapporteur its ongoing investigation into potential collusive practices in the market for organized school trip services.
The authority said the prioritization and rapporteur assignment mark a procedural milestone, formally starting the statutory deadlines for drafting a recommendation and reaching a decision. However, this step does not prejudge the substance or outcome of the investigation.
Scope of the Investigation
The authority’s ex officio investigation focuses on possible horizontal collusion among companies organizing school excursions, educational visits, and travel services for schools. Furthermore, the authority suspects potential facilitation of collusion by a third party acting as a “cartel facilitator.”
The conduct is being examined rules that prohibit agreements and coordinated practices that restrict competition.
Background
In January 2024, the HCC’s Directorate-General for Competition carried out unannounced inspections at several companies active in the school travel sector. These were followed by additional investigative steps, including requests for information and witness interviews under oath.
Next Steps
The HCC noted that the timeframe for concluding the case is indicative, as the duration depends on factors such as the complexity of the matter, the size of the case file, and the level of cooperation from the parties involved.
