The Greek Competition Authority has announced a prioritized examination and assignment to a competent rapporteur for cases involving vertical agreements in the school bags market and the wholesale and retail trade of branded clothing and footwear.

In September 2021, the Directorate-General for Competition conducted on-site inspections at businesses operating in the school bags sector, including lunch bags and pencil cases, due to suspected vertical agreements with retailers. In 2024, the Directorate-General expanded its investigation to include the markets for the import, wholesale, and retail of branded clothing and footwear.

The legal framework under which the Competition Authority operates is based on Law 3959/2011 and Articles 101/102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). These laws prohibit agreements between businesses that restrict competition, as well as abusive practices by dominant firms.

The assignment to a rapporteur marks the beginning of the deadlines for decision-making as per Law 3959/2011, although it does not predetermine the content of the recommendations or decisions of the Competition Authority. The legal deadlines are indicative, and the time taken to examine each case depends on its complexity, the volume of the administrative file, and the number of businesses involved and their level of cooperation.