"PosoKanei": The Ministry of Development's New Digital Tool for Price Monitoring

The Υπουργείο Ανάπτυξης (Ministry of Development) is implementing a new framework for market monitoring and consumer protection, emphasizing digital tools, artificial intelligence, and real-time data analysis. At the core of this strategy is the digital platform "PosoKanei" (meaning 'How much does it cost'), which will replace and upgrade the functions of the existing e-katanalotis, serving as a primary defense against inflation and unfair commercial practices.

Operation of the "PosoKanei" Platform

The new application is designed as a modern, interactive tool allowing consumers to compare prices and make informed purchasing decisions. To implement the project, the Ministry of Development has issued an invitation to CIRCANA HELLAS Α.Ε. ΕΡΕΥΝΑΣ ΟΡΑΣ (Circana Hellas S.A.) for the provision of information services, following the new framework for public procurement, with a bid submission deadline of May 26.

The contract, with a total estimated value of €11,532, involves the transmission of a list of the 10,000 products (SKUs) with the highest sales volume in the market. These products, which include both brand-name items and supermarket private-label goods, will be transmitted to the new Ανεξάρτητη Αρχή Ελέγχου Αγοράς και Προστασίας του Καταναλωτή (Independent Market Control and Consumer Protection Authority). These specific codes will form the "backbone" of the system for providing live updates on price fluctuations for essential consumer goods. The cost of the contract will be covered by the ministry's regular budget for 2026, a year for which the mystery of '26 spending was noted in a recent review.

Strengthening the Independent Market Control Authority

The creation of the platform is closely linked to a broader plan to strengthen the Independent Market Control and Consumer Protection Authority. Alongside "PosoKanei," a public expenditure financing program totaling €4,612,800 ($5,027,952 USD) has been activated. This project is part of the "ΤΠΑ (Sectoral Development Program) of the Ministry of Development 2026-2030," under the priority axis for trade enhancement. The relevant invitation was posted on Διαύγεια (Diavgeia, Greece's transparency portal for government decisions) signed by the Minister of Development, Takis Theodorikakos.

These resources will be allocated toward upgrading and expanding the Authority's digital capabilities, prioritizing AI applications for "smart market surveillance," as highlighted in the weekly analysis on digital transformation. Using advanced data analysis tools, the Authority will be able to identify regulatory violations, categorize complaints, conduct ex-officio audits, and impose relevant fines. Furthermore, the system will support administrative procedures, providing an evidence-based foundation for faster decision-making.

Toward a European Supervision Model

According to government sources, the ultimate goal is to harmonize the Greek market supervision mechanism with the standards of advanced European states. In these countries, AI and digital data are already utilized to monitor prices and combat profiteering. The Minister of Development has described the establishment of the new Authority as a "very serious institutional reform," emphasizing the importance of creating a unified auditing mechanism for the first time.