Judgment of the Court (Eighth Chamber) of 9 July 2026.#Sad Trasporto Locale SpA v Provincia autonoma di Bolzano.#Reference for a preliminary ruling – Transport – Public passenger transport services by rail and by road – Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007 – Article 5(1) and (2) – Direct award of a public passenger transport services contract to an internal operator – Conditions – Applicable rules – Directive 2014/23/EU – Award of concession contracts – Point 1 of Article 5 – Concept of ‘services concession’ – Transfer of an operating risk – Directive 2014/24/EU – Public procurement – Article 12 – Concept of ‘control similar to that which a contracting authority exercises over its own departments’ – National legislation limiting the direct award of public service contracts to an internal operator – Compatibility with EU law.#Case C-856/24.