Berlin has cancelled the auction of the federal printing plant in order to prevent sensitive technology or the details of 80m identity card holders from falling into the wrong hands.

A government official confirmed Berlin was preparing a partial renationalisation of the Bundesdruckerei it sold in 2000. The official said the auction process had failed to raise enough interest and bids by Munich-based printer Giesecke & Devrient and TÜV Nord, an inspection and certification company, were too low.

Posted: 07|17|08 at 6:52 am. Filed under: Europe.