Press Release: Public procurement: infringement proceedings against Austria, Germany, Greece and Poland

The European Commission has taken action against Austria, Germany, Greece and Poland to correct breaches of EU public procurement law. The Commission has decided to refer Greece to the European Court of Justice over the tendering procedure for a railway project in Thriasio and over the award procedure for construction of a thermoelectric plant in Atherinolakkos, Crete. The Commission has also decided to send formal requests to Austria concerning a contract for supply and maintenance of software, to Germany concerning rescue transport services, and to Poland concerning the procurement of automated radar coastal surveillance equipment. These formal requests take the form of "reasoned opinions", 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.