Press Release: Public procurement: Commission sends formal request to Lithuania concerning contract for modernisation of railway radio communication system

The European Commission decided to send a formal request to Lithuania regarding the award of a works contract by Lithuania Railways (Lietuvos gelezinkeliais) for the modernisation of the railway radio communication system through the introduction of a GSM-R system. In the Commission's view, the use by Lithuanian Railways of the negotiated procedure without a prior call for competition was contrary to EU public procurement rules. This formal request takes the form of a 'reasoned opinion', the second stage of the infringement procedure laid down in Article 226 of the EC Treaty. If there is no satisfactory reply within two months, the Commission may refer the matter to the European Court of Justice.