VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta faces fresh setbacks in meeting EU border-control obligations after the Court of Appeal upheld a decision to annul a €6.3 million police contract for a new Entry/Exit System (EES). The ruling rejected an appeal by NetU Consultants Ltd and ordered a full re-evaluation of bids for the crucial Border Control System.
The court found the original assessment had been tainted by “external pressure” and serious procedural flaws, including inadequate scrutiny of NetU’s unusually low offer. NetU had been initially recommended in August 2024 despite its bid being far below the police’s €11 million estimate and competing proposals from SITA BV and PTL Limited.
Evidence showed the evaluation committee chair had breached confidentiality by discussing bidders with officials in other EU states. The committee was also found to have accepted NetU’s price justification too hastily.
The judgment raises wider concerns about Malta’s readiness for the EU’s EES, which began phased rollout in October 2025 and is intended to log entry and exit data for non-EU travellers across Schengen borders. With the tender now back to square one, Malta must continue relying on temporary compliance measures.
The police were ordered to pay 80% of legal costs, with SITA BV covering the remainder. The decision adds yet another delay as the EU’s April 2026 deadline for full activation of the system nears.
– photo Malta International Airport –
(ITALPRESS).
