Press Release: Public procurement: Commission requests Italy to comply with Court judgment on helicopter supply contracts

The European Commission decided, under Article 228 of the EC Treaty, to formally request Italy to comply with a 2008 judgment of the European Court of Justice. In that judgment (case C-337/05), the Court ruled that Italy had failed to fulfil its obligations under EU Public Procurement Directives, by following the long-standing practice of directly awarding contracts for the purchase of Agusta and Agusta Bell helicopters to meet the requirements of several military and civilian corps to Agusta SpA, without any competitive tendering procedure. The Commission considers that the Italian authorities have not taken the necessary measures to comply with the judgment of the Court, which obliges them to put an end to the illegal practice.