The Slovenian Competition Agency (AVK) has been wrongly associated with public bus transport issues in the media. AVK has actively monitored the passenger transport market, uncovering cartel agreements in previous tender processes.

In the recent tender process, the State Review Commission found irregularities, including competition law violations, leading to the cancellation of the public contract.

The public transport market is under the Ministry of Infrastructure's control, with AVK having a supervisory role in cases of competition law violations or advocating for fair competition in public procurement processes.

AVK warned the Ministry about potential market issues early on, such as monopolization risks and price increases due to fewer service providers, which have now materialized.

Before the new contracts take effect in July 2024, at least 15 to 20 different transport companies were operating bus services, but the Ministry chose only four providers in the latest tender, impacting competition.

The current situation in the market is a result of the specific tender conditions set by the Ministry and not due to AVK's competition assessment procedures, as incorrectly implied in some media reports.

AVK concludes that the Ministry's tender design did not foster competition among potential bidders, distancing itself from the ongoing market situation.