The Croatian competition authority is spearheading a project under the Technical Support Instrument (TSI) to combat collusive agreements in public procurement, particularly focusing on bid rigging. This initiative, which began in September 2024, involves collaboration with competition authorities from Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, and Romania, and is supported by experts from the OECD and the European Commission.

Three workshops will be conducted in Zagreb to enhance awareness and education among various stakeholders involved in public procurement. The first workshop, scheduled for April 7-8, 2025, will cater to representatives from public contracting authorities, including government bodies and agencies. The second workshop, a one-day event on April 9, 2025, will focus on judicial officials such as judges and public prosecutors. The final workshop, taking place on April 10, 2025, will target the private sector, including representatives from associations and individual companies engaged in public procurement.

Experts from the OECD and the European Commission will participate in these workshops, alongside presentations from the Croatian Competition Agency and a guest lecture from the Czech Office for the Protection of Competition. The workshops will utilize the OECD Guidelines for fighting bid rigging, which aim to reduce the risk of collusion through well-structured procurement processes and effective detection of illegal practices.

The overarching goal of this project is to equip all participants in public procurement with the necessary tools and knowledge to prevent irregularities, thereby fostering a fairer and more efficient public procurement system across Europe.