Brussels, 26/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 25 January, members of the internal market committee began discussion on the legislative package amending directives on the awarding of public procurement contracts (see EUROPE 10520). The European Parliament rapporteur, Belgian Socialist Marc Tarabella, said women criticise men for not being able to multi-task. That, he said, is precisely his aim, to focus on just one task, in order to successfully deal with “this fundamental dossier”. Tarabella is an alternate member of the lead parliamentary committee, and a full member of the agriculture committee. He will base his reflection on the latest EP resolution calling for rules to be simplified and for better SME access to public contracts. He raised the question of how appropriate it is to call for electronic markets to be generalised two years after entry into force of the package.
Franck Engel (EPP, Luxembourg) was in favour of there being more possibility to choose the most advantageous offer in economic terms rather than the cheapest offer. He was delighted by the introduction of innovation partnerships which will allow a public buyer to jointly develop a product or a service with a company. Toine Manders (ALDE, Netherlands), like Barbara Weiler (S&D, Germany), recommends adoption of a regulation that is directly and uniformly applicable throughout the EU. Heide Rühle (Greens/EFA, Germany) felt the transition to a fully electronic process after a two year delay was a problem. Speaking in the name of the principle of subsidiarity, she sounded a note of caution against provisions that would restrict the autonomy of regional authorities, predicting that this would put a few noses out of joint in Council. Malcolm Harbour (ECR, UK) felt that all measures aimed at simplification are along the right lines: - declarations on one's honour as sufficient elements of proof for taking part in a call for tenders, the European passport which will promote the awarding of crossborder contracts, and making procedures as virtual as possible by using “electronic signature”. Cornelis de Jong (GUE/NGL, Netherlands) and Evelyne Gebhardt (S&D, Germany) underlined the importance of complying with social standards in the context of public procurement, especially when the contract provides for sub-contracting.
The European Commission representative said the generalisation of electronic markets did not imply that contracts should be awarded in a fully electronic manner but that there should be at least dialogue between the adjudicating authority and those submitting tenders. For the very first time, this means that buyers will be able to take account of costs relating to the whole life cycle of a product or service. The Commission went on to acknowledge that, on the subject of including social and environmental criteria, it is difficult to say exactly when the production process begins. MEPs will, on Monday 6 February, begin discussion on the concessions directive with the rapporteur, Philippe Juvin (EPP, France). (MB/transl.jl)