EU launches infringement procedure against Hungary for Paks upgrade

Budapest, November 19 (MTI) – The European Commission on Thursday said it launched an infringement procedure against Hungary for failing to comply with European Union public procurement rules in an upgrade of the Paks nuclear power plant.

“The Hungarian government has directly awarded the construction of two new reactors and the refurbishment of two additional reactors of the Paks II nuclear power plant without a transparent procedure,” the EC said on its website.

“The Commission considers that the direct award of the Paks II nuclear power plant project does not comply with EU legislation on public procurement…[that] consolidate the basic principles of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union of transparency, non-discrimination, and equal treatment,” it added.

The EC asked Hungary for information on the matter in a “letter of formal notice”, the first stage of an infringement procedure.

The EC said it had already had exchanges with the Hungarian authorities and thoroughly assessed the terms of the award but still has “concerns regarding the compatibility of the project with EU public procurement rules”.