62022TO0170(05)_INF
Order of the Vice-President of the General Court of 28 February 2023 –Telefónica de España v Commission
(Case T‑170/22 R-RENV)
(Interim relief – Public supply contracts – Trans-European Services for Telematics between Administrations (TESTA) – Application for interim measures – No prima facie case)
1.
Judicial proceedings – Application initiating proceedings – Formal requirements – Clear and precise statement of the pleas relied on – Fundamental rights – Rights of the defence
(Art. 263 TFEU; Statute of the Court of Justice, Arts 21, first para., and 53, first para.; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 76(d))
(see paragraphs 20, 39)
2.
Interim relief – Suspension of operation of a measure – Conditions for granting – Urgency – Assessment in public procurement litigation – Serious damage – Sufficient in the case of a particularly serious prima facie case constituted by an obvious and serious illegality – Condition – Application for interim measures brought in the standstill period before conclusion of the contract with the successful tenderer
(Art. 278 TFEU; Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 47; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2018/1046, Art. 175)
(see paragraphs 25-27)
3.
Interim relief – Suspension of operation of a measure – Interim measures – Conditions for granting – Urgency – Prima facie case – Sufficient in the case of a particularly serious prima facie case constituted by an obvious and serious illegality
(Arts 278 and 279 TFEU; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 156(4))
(see paragraph 28)
4.
European Union public contracts – Conclusion of a contract following a call for tenders – Discretion of the institutions – Judicial review – Limits
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2018/1046)
(see paragraphs 35, 116)
5.
Action for annulment – Pleas in law – Action against a decision rejecting a tender submitted by a tenderer in the context of a public procurement procedure launched by an EU institution – Plea in law alleging a manifest error of assessment on the part of the contracting authority – Burden of proof borne by the applicant
(Art. 263 TFEU)
(see paragraph 36)
6.
Interim relief – Admissibility criteria – Application – Formal requirements – Statement of the pleas establishing a prima facie case for granting the measures sought – Judicial review – Limits
(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 76(d))
(see paragraphs 40, 42)
7.
European Union public contracts – Tendering procedure – Appeal procedure against decisions of the awarding authority to award public contracts – Audi alteram partem rule – Reconciliation with the protection of business secrets – Duty to ensure confidentiality and the right to respect for business secrets having regard to information contained in files communicated by the parties – Conditions – Reconciliation of the said obligation with the requirements of effective judicial protection and respect for the defence rights of parties to the dispute in order to guarantee the right to a fair trial
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2018/1046, Art. 170)
(see paragraphs 61-64)
8.
European Union public contracts – Tendering procedure – Obligation to comply with the principle of equal treatment of tenderers – Need to ensure equal opportunities and comply with the principle of transparency – Scope – Obligation for the authorising officer to request clarifications or the production of missing documents which substantially change the tenderer’s application documents – None
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2018/1046, Art. 151, third para.)
(see paragraph 77)
9.
European Union public contracts – Tendering procedure – Rules on languages – Procurement documents – Drafting in a language other than the official language of the Member State of the addressee – Procedural irregularity – Consequences – No infringement of essential procedural requirements – Procedure called into question – Conditions – Harmful consequences for the addressee
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2018/1046, Arts 136(1), 141(1), 164(3), and 166(2); Council Regulation No 1, Art. 3)
(see paragraphs 96-103)
10.
European Union public contracts – Tendering procedure – Award of contracts – Award criteria – Duty to comply with the principles of equal treatment of tenderers and transparency – Scope – Requirement of clarity and precision – Discretion of the contracting authority as to the choice of award criteria – Criteria that are not exclusively economic – Criteria linked to the subject matter of the contract – Whether permissible
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2018/1046, Art. 166(2))
(see paragraphs 115, 117-119)
Operative part
1.
The application for interim measures is refused.
2.
The order of 1 April 2022, Telefónica de España v Commission (T‑170/22 R), is cancelled.
3.
The costs are reserved.