Case C‑28/23

NFŠ a.s.

v

Slovenská republika konajúca prostredníctvom Ministerstva školstva, vedy, výskumu a športu Slovenskej republiky,
v
Ministerstvo školstva, vedy, výskumu a športu Slovenskej republiky

(Request for a preliminary ruling from the Okresný súd Bratislava III)

Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 17 October 2024

(References for a preliminary ruling – Public procurement of works, supplies and services – Directive 2004/18/EC – Concept of ‘public works contracts’ – Collection of agreements comprising a grant agreement and an undertaking to purchase – Direct economic interest for the contracting authority – Work corresponding to the requirements specified by the contracting authority – Grant and undertaking to purchase constituting State aid compatible with the internal market – Directive 89/665/EEC – Directive 2014/24/EU – Consequences of a finding that a public contract is ineffective – Absolute nullity ex tunc)

1. Approximation of laws – Procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts – Directive 2004/18 – Temporal application – Criterion – Act in force on the date of the contracting authority’s decision on the type of procedure to be followed for the award adopted before the expiry of the transposition period – Period for transposition of the provisions of a directive expiring after that date – Inapplicability of those provisions

   (European Parliament and Council Directives 2004/18 and 2014/24)

   (see paragraph 34)

2. Approximation of laws – Procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts – Directive 2004/18 – Public works contracts – Concept – Contract for pecuniary interest – Concept – Agreements of intent resulting from several documents, none of which constitute a contract under national law – Synallagmatic nature – Included – Contract involving an obligation to purchase by a contracting authority without an obligation to sell devolving on the other contracting party – Irrelevant

   (European Parliament and Council Directive 2004/18, Art. 1(2)(a))

   (see paragraphs 40, 44, 45)

3. Approximation of laws – Procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts – Directive 2004/18 – Public works contracts – Concept – Contract for pecuniary interest – Criteria – Works covered by the contract carried out in the direct economic interest of the contracting authority – Scope – Need to acquire a material or physical object – None – Right of pre-emption on the constructed building – Included – Economic benefits derived by the contracting authority from the future use or transfer of the work – Included – Financial contribution of the contracting authority to the execution of the work – Included – Risks assumed by the contracting authority in the event of economic failure of the work – Included

   (European Parliament and Council Directive 2004/18, Art. 1(2)(b))

   (see paragraphs 47-50)

4. Approximation of laws – Procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts – Directive 2004/18 – Public works contracts – Concept – Work to be carried out in accordance with the requirements specified by the contracting authority – Exercise of decisive influence by the contracting authority on the design of the work – Included – Commission decision recognising the compatibility of State aid with the internal market – Irrelevant

   (European Parliament and Council Directive 2004/18, Art. 1(2)(b))

   (see paragraphs 51, 52, 55, 59-61, operative part 1)

5. Approximation of laws – Review procedures in respect of the award of public supply and public works contracts – Directive 89/665 – Member States’ duty to provide for a review procedure – Access to the review procedures – Obligation to provide for a judicial review procedure for the contracting authorities – None – Plea of nullity raised by a contracting authority – Not included

   (Council Directive 89/665, Arts 1(1) and (3), 2d and 2e)

   (see paragraphs 67-74)

6. Approximation of laws – Procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts – Directive 2014/24 – Member States duty to provide for a review procedure – Obligation for Member States to provide for monitoring of the application of public procurement rules – National regulations providing for the possibility for a contracting authority to raise an objection of absolute nullity ex tunc – Exception based on disregard for public procurement regulations – Whether permissible – Procedure falling within the scope of EU law – Applicability of general principles of European Union law

   (European Parliament and Council Directive 2014/24, Arts 1(1) and 83(1) and (2))

   (see paragraphs 75-79, 81, operative part 2)

See the text of the decision.