Non-attached MEP Fabio De Masi has asked the European Commission to explain why it closed an investigation into the sale of shares in Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) to shipping giant MSC without a formal decision, and whether it knew that the City of Hamburg had not obtained an independent valuation or held a competitive tender before the sale.
The parliamentary question, submitted on 13 April 2026, follows the Commission's reply to an earlier question (E-002992/2025) in which it stated that the case was closed because no interested party had submitted an admissible formal complaint under Article 1(h) of Regulation (EU) 2015/1589. During a meeting with the European Ombudsman (case 3118/2025/MAS), the Commission further indicated that it had examined the need for an ex officio investigation but deemed it unnecessary.
De Masi now seeks the Commission's justification for that decision and asks whether it was aware of the lack of independent valuation and competitive tendering by the City of Hamburg. The question touches on state aid rules and transparency in public asset sales, potentially affecting EU competition policy, Hamburg's fiscal autonomy, and the logistics sector.
The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks; its answer will signal whether it considers the sale compliant with EU state aid rules or whether further scrutiny is warranted.