Doprastav and Strabag are no longer allowed to participate in public tenders in Slovakia, the country’s public procurement office (ÚVO) decided, citing the companies participation in a 2004 cartel agreement in a highway construction tender. ÚVO did not stipulate how long the companies would be banned from bidding in public tenders, but news reports speculate it could be up to five years. Transport Minister Ján Počiatek applauded the ÚVO decision. “It is important that companies, which were part of the cartel, are punished,” he told local media outlets. The companies can appeal the decision.
