Brussels, 10/12/2015 (Agence Europe) - The Commission announced on Thursday 10 December that it had decided to refer Austria to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failure to comply with European rules on public procurement in the direct award of security printing services of official documents.
Austrian federal authorities have awarded the printing of several official documents, including passports and driving licences, directly to the Austrian state printing house, Österreichische Staatsdruckerei GmbH (OeSD), a private company listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange.
The Commission considers that the direct award of security printing services to a private company, without a public tender, breaches EU rules on public procurement and infringes Directive 2004/18/EC on the coordination of procedures for the award of public works, public supply and public service contracts which “are designed to guarantee fair competition and better value for money for contracting authorities and taxpayers”.
This infringement has lasted since 2000. In July 2014, the Commission issued a reasoned opinion asking Austria to take appropriate measures to remedy the situation. As Austria has not taken the necessary steps, the Commission has referred the matter to the Court of Justice. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)