The Italian government has abandoned its plan to award the Intercity rail tender as a single lot, following direct intervention from European Union regulators.
The decision marks a significant reversal in the procurement strategy for one of the country's most critical infrastructure projects, which aims to modernize high-speed rail connections across the peninsula.
EU officials had raised concerns that the single-lot approach could limit competition and favor domestic incumbents, potentially violating EU state aid and procurement rules.
The intervention highlights the growing scrutiny of national infrastructure spending under the EU's recovery and resilience framework, where compliance with open-market principles is strictly enforced.
The shift to a multi-lot structure is expected to broaden the pool of eligible bidders, including international rail operators and consortiums.
However, it also introduces complexity into the bidding process, potentially delaying the final award and the subsequent rollout of new services.