The Slovak Competition Authority (PMÚ) has penalized a cartel agreement among business associations regarding minimum recommended prices for air conditioning, cooling, and heat pump services.

On September 18, 2026, PMÚ issued a first-instance decision imposing a fine of €140,000 on the Slovak Association for Cooling, Air Conditioning, and Heat Pumps.

The agreement involved a decision by the business association on minimum recommended prices for services provided by qualified refrigeration mechanics and IT specialists from 2022 to 2025.

Since the Slovak Association admitted its participation in the competition law violation during the proceedings and reached a settlement, the fine was reduced by 30%.

Due to the specifics of the case, PMÚ deviated from its general methodology for determining fines and significantly lowered the sanction compared to the standard calculation based on the turnover of the association's active members in the affected market. PMÚ considers the imposed sanction to be adequate, capable of fulfilling both punitive and preventive functions, and deterring similar anti-competitive conduct in the future.

The PMÚ's decision is final.

PMÚ also highlights the possibility of utilizing the settlement institution. If a business admits its participation in a violation and takes responsibility, the PMÚ will impose a one-year ban on participation in public procurement and reduce the fine by up to 50% for vertical agreements or 30% for cartels and abuse of dominance.