Press Release:Public procurement: Commission sends formal request to Czech Republic regarding regional bus transport services

The European Commission decided to send a formal request to the Czech Republic concerning the procedure followed by the Czech Region of Usti nad Labem for the award of a contract to a private undertaking for the provision of regional bus transport services. 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.