Press Release: Public procurement: Commission acts to enforce EU law in Spain, UK, Portugal and Italy

The European Commission on 16 March 2005 decided to ask Spain for its observations on the compatibility with EU law of the procedure used in the architecture competition organised for the development of the Santa Catalina isthmus in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. A similar letter was sent to the UK over the way contracts relating to the design and construction of the new Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood were awarded. Meanwhile, the Commission was asking Portugal to comply with an October 2004 judgment by the European Court of Justice requiring it to apply correctly EU law on appeal procedures for bidders who believe they have been unjustly treated in tendering procedures for works and supply contracts. The Commission decided to refer Italy to the Court over contracts for hydraulic works in the municipality of Stintino (Sassari, Sardinia).