Noooooo... really? Slap us silly with a toothpick, State officials discovered the existence of a construction sector cartel! According to reports, an investigation by the Directorate General for Competition of the Hellenic Competition Commission (HCC) discovered that a construction sector cartel was operating in the country between 2002 and 2009. We only have one question: Why only during the period 2002-2009? What about all the previous years, and especially during the period prior to the Olympic games? E?
The investigation, said the state news agency, was launched in response to media reports on high real estate prices and after an announcement in the Association of Constructors (EKKE) website calling on sector professionals to refrain from constructing new buildings until 70 pct of the available real estate had been sold.
According to the Directorate General for Competition, EKKE through repeated decisions and recommendations to its members contributed to limiting the real estate market and price fixing.
The HCC plenum will convene on Nov. 1 to decide whether national or EU legislation was violated.
EKKE represents 14 pct of the construction companies in the greater Athens region.