I. Introduction The Portuguese Public Contract Code (hereinafter referred to as “PCC”) was enacted by Decree-Law 18/2008 of January 29th, introducing the Directives 2004/17/EC and 2004/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of March 31st, 20041 in the Portuguese legal framework While complying with the purposes of European Law transposition, the Portuguese legislator set up a new paradigm rather than a simple update of the previous p