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EU Finds Chinese Bidder in Lisbon Subway Line Benefited From Unfair ...
The commission said the move removes an unfair edge after finding foreign subsidies distorted the bid.
- On Tuesday, the European Commission authorized the Mota-Engil-led consortium to continue the Violet Line project, provided they replace Chinese rolling stock manufacturer CRRC Portugal with Polish rival PESA.
- An in-depth investigation launched in late 2025 revealed that state-owned CRRC benefited from foreign subsidies that provided "an unfair competitive edge," distorting the Lisbon procurement procedure.
- The China Chamber of Commerce to the EU expressed strong opposition, arguing officials failed to explain why a subcontractor holding less than 10 per cent of contract value warranted corrective action.
- Regulators remained concerned that CRRC could re-enter the bidding "through the back door," as the Mota-Engil-led consortium maintained original prices and technical arrangements despite the manufacturer change.
- Linking Odivelas and Loures, the Violet Line carries a base price of around 600 million euros, with construction scheduled for completion in 2029.
13 Articles
13 Articles
der Standard AT
der Standard DEThe EU Commission pushed the bar to a CRRC subsidiary because it had received competition-distorting state aid. The state corporation had applied for the construction of a metro line in Lisbon.
The European Commission has validated Mota-Engil's proposal for the Violeta line after supplier of Chinese rolling stock has been replaced by a Polish.
The European Commission said on Tuesday (April 21) that CRRC, the Chinese railway company selected to build a new metro line in Lisbon, benefited from unfair foreign subsidies. The Chinese company has been pressured to withdraw from the Lisbon metro contract, which has been taken over by a Polish company.
The new violet line of the Lisbon Metro was at risk, but it has now received a green light from Brussels, with a decisive condition along the way. After all, why was it necessary to exchange a Chinese supplier for a European? Listen to the new episode of the Economy day by day, podcast daily of the Express, led by Juliana Simões
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