Case C‑601/21

European Commission

v

Republic of Poland

Judgment of the Court (First Chamber) of 7 September 2023

(Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations – Public contracts for services contracts – State printing office – Production of identity documents and other official documents as well as systems for managing such documents – National legislation providing for the award of contracts for such production to a public undertaking without first conducting a procurement procedure – Article 346(1)(a) TFEU – Directive 2014/24/EU – Article 1(1) and (3) – Article 15(2) and (3) – Special security measures – Protection of a Member State’s essential security interests)

1. Approximation of laws – Procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts – Directive 2014/24 – Scope – Exceptions – Restrictive interpretation

   (Art. 346(1)(a) TFEU; European Parliament and Council Directive 2014/24, Art. 15(2) and (3))

   (see paragraphs 70, 81)

2. Approximation of laws – Procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts – Directive 2014/24 – Scope – Contracts requiring special security measures – Not included – Obligation to show that it is not necessary to carry out a competitive tendering procedure for the award of the contract – Scope

   (Art. 346(1)(a) TFEU; European Parliament and Council Directive 2014/24, Arts 12 and 15(2) and (3))

   (see paragraphs 76-80, 82, 84, 85, 91, 92)

3. Approximation of laws – Procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts – Directive 2014/24 – Conduct of the procedure – Qualitative selection criteria – Selection criteria relating to technical or professional ability, technical specifications or conditions relating to the performance of the public contract – Discretion of the contracting authority – Scope

   (European Parliament and Council Directive 2014/24, Arts 42(1) and 58(1) and (4))

   (see paragraphs 93- 96)

4. Approximation of laws – Procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts – Directive 2014/24 – Contracts for the production of identity documents and other official documents as well as systems for managing such documents – Award without a competitive tendering procedure in order to protect the essential security interests of the Member State concerned – No valid justification for the failure to carry out a competitive tendering procedure – Not permissible – Failure to fulfil obligations – Contract for the production of documents for officers performing duties in connection with the protection of national security – Award without a competitive tendering procedure – Whether permissible

   (Art. 346(1)(a) TFEU; European Parliament and Council Directive 2014/24, Art. 15(2) and (3))

   (see paragraphs 98-111, 117, operative part 1)

See the text of the decision.