An association representing Spanish engineering and consultancy firms has filed a legal challenge against the government’s decision to award feasibility studies for the proposed Morocco–Spain undersea tunnel to the state owned company Ineco without a public tender.
The Spanish Association of Business and Engineering Consultancies, known as CÍES, lodged the appeal this week before Madrid’s central administrative court, arguing that the direct award breaches competition principles and excludes private sector firms with international expertise, according to details published by Spanish business daily El Economista.
The contract, valued at more than €961,000, covers technical assistance to update the preliminary design of the fixed link across the Strait of Gibraltar, including revised tunnel routing and alignment studies, the paper reported. The court has accepted the case for review.
CÍES said the studies were commissioned by SECEGSA, the Spanish state body responsible for fixed links across the strait and overseen by the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility. The group called for the contract to be cancelled and relaunched through an open tender process.
The challenge follows earlier disputes between CÍES and Spanish authorities over the use of state owned firms for engineering studies. The association has previously argued that repeated direct awards to public companies amount to unfair competition, particularly for projects that are not time sensitive.
In one recent case, CÍES successfully overturned an Ineco awarded contract linked to a road bridge project in Seville, citing subcontracting practices and technical requirements, according to Spanish media.
In May, Spain’s government reduced the budget allocated to Gibraltar tunnel studies from €2.4 million to €1.6 million after revising the scope of planned work.
Ineco, fully owned by the Spanish state, operates under the transport ministry and provides engineering and consultancy services across rail, airports, roads and ports, including overseas projects.
Interest in the Morocco–Spain tunnel has revived since Morocco was named co host of the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, with the project framed by officials as a long term link to boost mobility and trade between Europe and Africa.
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