Press Release: Public procurement: infringement proceedings against Germany and Slovakia

The European Commission has taken action against Germany and Slovakia to correct breaches of EU public procurement law. The Commission will send formal requests to Germany concerning a contract for the construction of four trade fair halls and additional premises concluded between the city of Cologne and a private investment company, and concerning the award of security control services at the airport Frankfurt/Main. The Commission will also send a formal request to Slovakia concerning the use of the selection criterion of previous experience as one the award criteria in a tender for construction of a Motorway D 3. These 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.