Brussels, 17/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 16 October, the European Commission decided to move to the next stage of the infringement procedures relating to the award of public contracts in Germany, Greece and Italy.
Italy. The Commission has decided to send a letter of formal notice asking Italy for full information on its compliance with the April 2008 judgment of the European Court of Justice (C-337/05) concerning the award of supply contracts for the purchase of helicopters (see EUROPE 9638). Ultimately, it can ask the Court to impose a penalty payment. Greece. In receipt of a number of reasoned opinions, Greece will have two months to explain the following two cases: - the tendering procedure launched by the "Company for Water Supply and Drainage of Athens" (E.YD.AP. S.A.) for the award of the project “Main Drainage Collectors of the West Part of Thriassion Field”; - a number of tendering procedures over the period between 2003-2005 relating to the award of contracts for the supply of vehicles for the transport of waste. Germany. Germany will have to explain itself over the conclusion of public service contracts for the maintenance of district roads by administrative districts (Landkreise) in eight German States (Länder). It will also have to provide information on the award of a contract in 2002 by Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH (DFS), the organisation that is responsible for flight traffic control for the provision of flight measure services. The Commission says the service contract was awarded to a company in which DFS holds a 55% shareholding without being put out to competition. (M.B./transl.rt)