Presentation by Wojciech Hartung, Poland, on the functioning of legal protection measures in EU countries, at the SIGMA webinar on public procurement reality and challenges of post COVID, held on 26 January 2021.
2. Functioning of legal protection measures
in EU countries
AGENDA
- EU legal remedies in PP: general requirements
- About the Report: methodology and objectives
- Content of the Report: most important issues
- Conclusions: Poland
- Questions…
1
3. Functioning of legal protection measures
in EU countries
EU legal remedies in Public Procurement:
general requirements
2
4. Functioning of legal protection measures
in EU countries
• Remedies Directives (89/665/EC and 92/13/EC) did not intend to
fully harmonise the remedies systems in the area of public
procurement
• under those directives, the remedies to be provided by Member
States included the powers to:
take, at the earliest opportunity and by way of interlocutory
procedures, interim measures to correct the alleged
infringement
either set aside or ensure the setting aside of decisions
taken unlawfully
award damages to persons harmed by an infringement
3
5. Functioning of legal protection measures
in EU countries
• Directive 2007/66/EC amended the existing Remedies Directives
by introducing:
standstill period of at least 10 days between the decision to
select the best tender and the conclusion of a contract
time limits for pre-contractual remedies of at least 10 days
an automatic suspension of the contract award procedure
where legal proceedings are brought against contracting
authorities’ award decision
ineffectivness of a concluded contract and minimum time
limits for the submission of a motion
alternative penalties
4
6. Functioning of legal protection measures
in EU countries
About the Report: methodology and
objectives
5
7. Functioning of legal protection measures
in EU countries
• The Report Functioning of legal protection measures in EU
countries covers 28 EU Member States; in the case of the UK,
the information only concerns England and Wales
• The Report covers proceedings above EU thresholds covered by
directive 2014/24/EU
• The Report discusses legal protection measures concerning
contract award procedures, does not deal with realisation of a
contract
• The Report was prepared based on analysis of answers given by
law firms from 27 European Union Member States to questions
asked in the questionnaires
• The Report was prepared as at 31 August 2017
• The Report was made by the Polish Public Procurement Law
Association – authors: Anna Szymańska, Piotr Bogdanowicz,
Wojciech Hartung
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8. Functioning of legal protection measures
in EU countries
Content of the Report: most important issues
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9. Functioning of legal protection measures
in EU countries
Protest as a „self-cleaning” mechanism for contracting authority
Is there an obligation to submit an appellate remedy to an awarding
entity before filing an appellate measure to an independent appellate
body of first instance?
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Protest
YES (7)
NO (21)
10. Functioning of legal protection measures
in EU countries
Court (civil or administrative) or administrative authority
as a first instance review body
What type of independent authority is appointed to adjudicate remedies
involving correctness of the public procurement procedure in the first
instance?
9
Courts
12 Independent
non-judiciary
authorities
14 Public
administrative
authorities
2
11. Functioning of legal protection measures
in EU countries
Number of judges/arbitrators to solve the case
What is the composition of the adjudicating panel of an independent
appellate body?
10
First instance adjudicating panel
One member
(11)
Three
members (11)
Other (6)
12. Functioning of legal protection measures
in EU countries
Written proceedings or adversary trial
What is the nature of appellate proceedings pending before an
independent body of first instance (written proceedings or adversary
trial)?
11
Hearing
Requirement (10)
Option (13)
None (5)
13. Functioning of legal protection measures
in EU countries
Time limits to solve a case – first instance
In accordance with binding legal provisions of law, is an independent
appellate body of first instance required to adjudicate a case within
a set timeframe?
12
Time limit to issue a judgment in first
instance
None (12)
Up to 1 month (11)
Over 1 month (6)
14. Functioning of legal protection measures
in EU countries
Observance of time limits set
Are statutory deadlines met?
13
Observance of time limits
YES (12)
NO (4)
15. Functioning of legal protection measures
in EU countries
Standstill period for first or also second instance proceedings
Does a suspension period (the period in which the contracting authority
cannot execute a contract with the selected contractor) apply during the
appellate proceedings?
14
Standstill period
Until first instance
ends (17)
Until second
instance ends (4)
Other (7)
16. Functioning of legal protection measures
in EU countries
Appellate proceedings
Can the rulings of a body of first instance be appealed (be made the
subject of a complaint) to a body of second instance?
15
Right to appeal to second instance
YES (26)
NO (2)
17. Functioning of legal protection measures
in EU countries
Second instance body – common or administrative courts
What body serves as an appellate body of second instance?
16
Second instance body
Common courts (12)
Administrative courts (14)
None (2)
18. Functioning of legal protection measures
in EU countries
Time limits to solve a case –
second instance
In accordance with binding legal provisions of law, is a body of second
instance required to adjudicate a case within a set timeframe?
17
Time limit for second instance resolution
None (17)
30-45 days (10)
6 months (1)
19. Functioning of legal protection measures
in EU countries
Observance of time limits set
Are statutory deadlines met?
18
Observing time limits
YES (5)
NO (5)
20. Functioning of legal protection measures
in EU countries
Extraordinary appellate measures
Is it possible to challenge adjudications made by a body of second
instance? Do contractors or awarding entities hold this right?
19
Possibility of challenging second instance judgment
YES (19)
NO (9)
21. Functioning of legal protection measures
in EU countries
Fees and charges
What are the fees and charges associated with the use of legal protection
measures?
20
In these countries
there are no fees
for using legal
protection
measures
4 In this country
there are no fees
for using legal
measures
in first instance
1
22. Functioning of legal protection measures
in EU countries
Cancellation of procurement proceedings
Can the appellate body of first or second instance order that the
proceedings be cancelled ex officio (i.e. even when the appealing party
does not request so)?
21
Possibility of invalidating proceedings
ex officio
YES (8)
NO (20)
23. Functioning of legal protection measures
in EU countries
Separate public procurement authorities
Is there an administrative body appointed to supervise the public
procurement market?
22
Existence of separate public administrative
offices
YES (17)
NO (11)
25. Functioning of legal protection measures
in EU countries
• Introduction of an obligatory three-member panel in
certain cases;
• Introduction of mechanisms to allow broader use of
experts’ assistance;
• Introduction of the obligation to submit pleadings,
especially replies to appeals, to the parties and participants
of the proceedings within a specified time limit (before the
hearing);
• Allowing the hearings to be recorded (audio or video) by
first instance authorities;
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26. Functioning of legal protection measures
in EU countries
• Extension of the time limit for filing a complaint to the
second instance court from 7 to 14 days;
• Introduction of the possibility for the parties to the
proceedings to file an extraordinary appeal (kasacja) with
the Supreme Court;
• Reduction of the registration fees and charges for using
legal protection measures;
• Appointment of one court to handle all public
procurement cases in the second instance.
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