Press Release: Public procurement: Commission takes action against Spain (school bus services) and Hungary (reform of national law, office equipment contracts)

The European Commission acted on 18 March 2010 to ensure that EU rules on public procurement– the spending of public money by public authorities – are respected in Spain and Hungary. Spain will receive a formal request in relation to the award by the Castilla la Mancha region of a series of contracts for the provision of school bus services. Hungary will receive two formal requests to ensure that certain provisions of its national public procurement legislation and the award procedure for a contract for office equipment are in line with EU rules. These three formal requests to Spain and Hungary take the form of 'reasoned opinions', the second stage of the infringement procedure under Article 258 of the EU Treaty. If there is no satisfactory reply within two months, the Commission may refer the matters to the Court of Justice.

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