MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Reasoned opinion to Spain for failing to comply with the Services Directive when granting coastal concessions – E-003057/2024(ASW)

The Commission decided to send a reasoned opinion to Spain (INFR(2022)4121[1]) given that the legislation of this Member State does not provide for the obligation to use an impartial and transparent selection procedure to award concessions to build permanent premises on the coastal public domain and carry out economic activities therein and it does allow for the extension of certain concessions for up to 75 years.

In the Commission’s view, this legislation breaches the Services Directive[2] and the principle of the freedom of establishment enshrined in Article 49 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The Commission expects this infringement procedure to help opening up the single market in the area of coastal concessions.

It should also be noted that Spain has not been singled out. The Commission has opened similar infringement procedures against Italy (INFR(2020)4118[3]), Portugal (INFR(2022)2020[4]) and Greece (INFR(2024)2243[5]).

The Commission is bound by a confidentiality obligation while handling infringement procedures, with a view to attain an appropriate solution, and thus cannot disclose the reasoned opinion or information about the ongoing dialogue with the Spanish authorities.

• [1] https://ec.europa.eu/atwork/applying-eu-law/infringements-proceedings/infringement_decisions/?langCode=EN&version=v1&typeOfSearch=byDecision&refId=INFR(2022)4121&page=1&size=10&order=desc&sortColumns=decisionDate
• [2] Directive 2006/123/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on services in the internal market, OJ L 376, 27.12.2006, p. 36-68.
• [3] https://ec.europa.eu/atwork/applying-eu-law/infringements-proceedings/infringement_decisions/?langCode=EN&version=v1&typeOfSearch=byDecision&refId=INFR(2020)4118&page=1&size=10&order=desc&sortColumns=decisionDate
• [4] https://ec.europa.eu/atwork/applying-eu-law/infringements-proceedings/infringement_decisions/?langCode=EN&version=v1&typeOfSearch=byDecision&refId=INFR(2022)2020&page=1&size=10&order=desc&sortColumns=decisionDate
• [5] https://ec.europa.eu/atwork/applying-eu-law/infringements-proceedings/infringement_decisions/?langCode=EN&version=v1&typeOfSearch=byDecision&refId=INFR(2024)2243&page=1&size=10&order=desc&sortColumns=decisionDate