Case C‑683/22

Adusbef – Associazione difesa utenti servizi bancari e finanziari

v

Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri and Others

(Request for a preliminary ruling
from the Tribunale amministrativo regionale per il Lazio)

Judgment of the Court (Fifth Chamber) of 7 November 2024

(Reference for a preliminary ruling – Directive 2014/23/EU – Procedure for awarding concession contracts – Article 43 – Modification made to a concession during its term without opening up to competition – Concession of motorways – Collapse of the Morandi Bridge in Genoa (Italy) – National proceedings for serious failure to fulfil motorway network maintenance and preservation obligations – New obligations imposed on the concessionaire – Obligation of the contracting authority to make a prior decision on whether it is necessary to organise a new award procedure – Obligation of the contracting authority to carry out a prior examination of the reliability of the concessionaire)

1. Approximation of laws – Procedures for the award of concession contracts – Directive 2014/23 – Temporal application – Conclusion of the concession contract before the entry into force of that directive – Inapplicability of the directive – Limit – Substantial modification of the concession contract

   (European Parliament and Council Directive 2014/23, Arts 43 and 54, second para.)

   (see paragraph 32)

2. Approximation of laws – Procedures for the award of concession contracts – Directive 2014/23 – Modifications of ongoing contracts which do not require a new award procedure – Exhaustive nature of the circumstances permitting such modifications – Unforeseeable circumstances – Modification made necessary by the concessionaire’s failure to fulfil contractual obligations – Not included

   (European Parliament and Council Directive 2014/23, Art. 43(1), first subpara., (c), and (2))

   (see paragraphs 49-53, 56-57, 59-64)

3. Approximation of laws – Procedures for the award of concession contracts – Directive 2014/23 – Modifications of the concession – Replacement of the initial concessionaire – Definition – Modification of the composition of the shareholders of the concessionaire – Not included

   (European Parliament and Council Directive 2014/23, Art. 43(1), first subpara., (d), and (5))

   (see paragraphs 65-68)

4. Approximation of laws – Procedures for the award of concession contracts – Directive 2014/23 – Substantial modifications of ongoing contracts – Definition – Modifications affecting the economic balance of the concession – Financial compensation or strengthening of the safety standards – Not included

   (European Parliament and Council Directive 2014/23, Art. 43(1), first subpara., (e), and (4))

   (see paragraphs 70-72)

5. Approximation of laws – Procedures for the award of concession contracts – Directive 2014/23 – Modifications of ongoing contracts which do not require a new award procedure – Formal requirements – Publication of a modification notice – Application of the principle of good administration – Obligation to state reasons

   (European Parliament and Council Directive 2014/23, Arts 3(2), 31, 33 and 43(1) and (2))

   (see paragraphs 73-83, 85, operative part 1)

6. Approximation of laws – Procedures for the award of concession contracts – Directive 2014/23 – Substantial modifications of ongoing contracts – Obligations of the contracting authority – Selection and qualitative assessment – Grounds for exclusion provided for in that directive – Grave professional misconduct rendering the reliability and integrity of the concessionaire questionable – Included

   (European Parliament and Council Directive 2014/23, Arts 43(1),(2) and (5) and 44)

   (see paragraphs 90-97, operative part 2)

7. Approximation of laws – Procedures for the award of concession contracts – Directive 2014/23 – Modifications of ongoing contracts which do not require a new award procedure – Obligations of the contracting authority – Selection and qualitative assessment – Inapplicability – Grave professional misconduct rendering the reliability and integrity of the concessionaire questionable – Consequences – Competence of the Member States

   (European Parliament and Council Directive 2014/23, Arts 43(1),(2) and (5) and 44)

   (see paragraphs 98-104, operative part 2)

See the text of the decision.