On October 22, 2025, the Greek Competition Authority initiated a prioritized examination and assigned a responsible rapporteur for an ex officio investigation into the organized educational trip services market, in accordance with Article 15 of Law 3959/2011.

The investigation concerns potential horizontal (cartel) agreements among businesses involved in organizing such trips and/or the facilitation of these agreements, in violation of Article 1 of Law 3959/2011 and Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

As part of the investigation, the General Directorate of Competition conducted surprise on-site inspections at industry firms in January 2024, followed by data requests and witness testimonies.

The Greek Competition Authority, as the guardian of free market operations, is responsible for enforcing competition rules based on Law 3959/2011 and Articles 101/102 TFEU. These laws prohibit agreements that restrict competition and unilateral practices that invite prohibited collaborations.

The assignment to a rapporteur triggers deadlines for decision-making, but does not pre-determine the content of the report or the authority's decision. The legal timeframe is indicative, and the duration of each case's examination depends on its complexity, the volume of the administrative file, and the level of cooperation from the investigated firms.