RAILWAY freight company ZSSK Cargo Slovakia, will have to pay penalties imposed by the Antitrust Authority (PMÚ) for abusing its dominant position on the market over recent years, the daily Pravda reported.
Small railway companies have been complaining to the PMÚ about what they consider to be the anti-competitive practices of the current and previous Cargo Slovakia management.
So far the fines amount to more than Sk100 million (€2.6 million). However, with other cases pending, that sum may increase.
Cargo Slovakia is paying hundreds of thousands of crowns in legal fees to appeal the cases from which it has received fines to the Supreme Court. However, by doing this, the company risks having to pay out millions of more crowns in extra penalties.
Ultimately, these penalties will have to be paid by the state from taxpayers' money. Cargo Slovakia is now being privatized. However, the new owner will not take on these fines or other financial burdens. They will be left to the state to deal with.
