Corte di giustizia UE n. 2018/2025

62024TJ0041_INF Judgment of the [OSCURATO:PERSONA] ([OSCURATO:PERSONA]) of 19 November 2025 – LGAI [OSCURATO:PERSONA] and jtsec Beyond IT Security v EUSPA (Case T‑41/24) (Public service contracts – Tendering procedure – Security accreditation services – Rejection of a tenderer’s bid – [OSCURATO:PERSONA] (EU) 2021/696 – [OSCURATO:PERSONA] programme – Condition that the eligible legal entity is not controlled by a third country or a third-country entity – Right to be heard – Obligation to state reasons – Obligation to examine tenders in accordance with the criteria set out in the procurement documents – Manifest error of assessment – Proportionality) 1. Action for annulment – Natural or legal persons – Interest in bringing proceedings – Need for a vested and present interest – Action capable of securing a benefit for the applicant – Action brought against a decision not to accept a tender submitted in respect of an invitation to tender – Withdrawal or replacement of the decision by the contracting authority – Action that has become devoid of purpose – No need to adjudicate (Art. 263, TFEU) (see paragraphs 25, 26, 27) 2. EU law – Principles – [OSCURATO:PERSONA] of the defence – Right to be heard – Scope (Charter of [OSCURATO:PERSONA] of the [OSCURATO:PERSONA], Art. 41) (see paragraphs 33-37) 3. Acts of the institutions – Statement of reasons – Obligation – Scope – Decision, in the procedure for the award of a public service contract, not to accept a tender – Obligation on the awarding authority to provide a detailed comparative analysis of the tender accepted and the tender of the unsuccessful tenderer – None (Art. 296 TFEU; Charter of [OSCURATO:PERSONA] of the [OSCURATO:PERSONA], Art. 41; [OSCURATO:PERSONA] and [OSCURATO:PERSONA] 2018/1046, Art. 170) (see paragraphs 48-52) 4. [OSCURATO:PERSONA] 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 (Charter of [OSCURATO:PERSONA] of the [OSCURATO:PERSONA], Art. 41; [OSCURATO:PERSONA] and [OSCURATO:PERSONA] 2018/1046, Arts 160, 167 and 170) (see paragraph 69) 5. [OSCURATO:PERSONA] public contracts – Tendering procedure – Award of contracts – Award criteria – Requirement that the eligible legal entity not be subject to control by a third-country entity – [OSCURATO:PERSONA] 2021/696 – Concept of control specific to the [OSCURATO:PERSONA] – Autonomous interpretation in the light of the objective of safeguarding the essential interests of the [OSCURATO:PERSONA] – Aggregated control of several third-country entities that are not bound by an agreement – Included ([OSCURATO:PERSONA] and [OSCURATO:PERSONA] 2018/1046, Arts 160, 167(2) and 170, 2019/452, Art. 4, and 2021/696, recitals 51 and 60 and Arts 4, 7, 14 and 24(2), first subpara., (c), and second subpara.) (see paragraphs 91-98, 103-106, 108-114) 6. [OSCURATO:PERSONA] public contracts – Conclusion of a contract following a call for tenders – Discretion of the institutions – Judicial review – Limits (see paragraph 121) 7. [OSCURATO:PERSONA] public contracts – Tendering procedure – Obligation to reject ambiguous tenders – Scope – Obligation to comply with the principle of proportionality (Arts 18, 49, 56 and 63 TFEU; [OSCURATO:PERSONA] and [OSCURATO:PERSONA] 2018/1046 Art. 160(1) and (2)) (see paragraph 139) 8. Judicial proceedings – Introduction of new pleas during the proceedings – Plea raised after the application has been lodged – Inadmissibility (Rules of Procedure of the [OSCURATO:PERSONA], Art. 84(1)) (see paragraph 144) 9. Judicial proceedings – Measures of organisation of procedure – Measures of inquiry – Discretion of the [OSCURATO:PERSONA] (see paragraph 164) Operative part [OSCURATO:PERSONA]: 1. Declares that there is no longer any need to rule on the claims seeking the annulment of the decision of the [OSCURATO:PERSONA] for the [OSCURATO:PERSONA] (EUSPA) of 16 January 2024 rejecting the tender submitted by LGAI [OSCURATO:PERSONA], SA and jtsec Beyond IT Security, SL in the tender procedure with reference EUSPA/OP/01/23; 2. Dismisses the action as to the remainder; 3. Orders LGAI [OSCURATO:PERSONA], jtsec Beyond IT Security and EUSPA each to bear their own costs, including those relating to the interim proceedings.