The Austrian competition authority (AFCA) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) organized workshops on September 11 and 12 to address the issue of bid rigging in public procurement.

The first workshop, titled 'Strengthening compliance to fighting bid rigging', targeted representatives from the Austrian social partnership, the economy, and the private sector. It emphasized prevention tools such as whistleblowing systems, leniency programmes, and effective compliance measures. Experts from the OECD and the Central Public Prosecutor for Economic Crime and Corruption discussed relevant national and international laws, providing an overview of current cases and stressing the importance of recognizing bid rigging early. Participants engaged in practical exercises based on hypothetical case studies to apply their theoretical knowledge.

The second workshop, 'Strengthening legal oversight in fighting bid rigging', featured discussions led by Andreas Kumin, a judge at the Court of Justice of the European Union, who highlighted significant CJEU rulings. Sonja Köller-Thier, Senate President at the Vienna Higher Regional Court, presented decisions from the Austrian Cartel Court. The workshop also included presentations on current AFCA cases and the OECD’s international perspective. Daniel Madari from Vienna University of Economics and Business concluded the event with insights on private enforcement and damage claims calculation.

Director General Natalie Harsdorf expressed her satisfaction with the initiative, stating that prevention, knowledge transfer, and dialogue are crucial in combating bid rigging.

This project is funded by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support (DG REFORM) and is a joint effort between the OECD and AFCA.