Karlskrona Municipality has been ordered to pay a 130,000 kronor fine for illegal procurement practices, according to a decision by the Swedish Competition Authority (Konkurrensverket). The penalty stems from a 2024 contract signed by the municipality's Drift- och servicenämnden (Operations and Services Committee) with a pest control company without first advertising the procurement as required by law.
The contract, which was worth over 400,000 kronor annually and spanned three years with an option for a one-year extension, was deemed an illegal direct procurement. In its investigation, Konkurrensverket found that the committee failed to follow proper procurement procedures and also criticized the municipality for inadequate documentation of the procurement process in accordance with legal requirements.
The decision, announced on March 24, 2026, requires the municipality to pay the 130,000 kronor penalty for what the authority classified as an unauthorized direct procurement. The case highlights the importance of municipalities following established procurement regulations to ensure fair competition and transparent use of public funds.