Brussels, 20/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 20 April, the European Commission presented an action plan designed to favour the full virtualisation of the award of public procurement contracts between now and 2016 (see EUROPE 10520). “It's time to act. E-procurement represents a significant untapped potential for the EU economy. It can simplify the way procurement is conducted, reduce burdens on costs, increase the participation of SMEs and deliver better quality at low prices. The sooner the transition is initiated, the sooner we will reap the benefits offered by e-procurement”, said Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier, in a press release.
In its proposed revision of the public procurement directives, the Commission is planning for all public authorities to put their public procurement online no later than two years after the entry into force of the future European legislation, or 2016, other than in duly justified cases. In the case of so-called special sectors (for example energy), a transition period of five years has been recommended.
Despite the advantages identified (increased transparency, reduction of costs), the aim of 100% e-procurement for all contracts within less than five years is still very ambitious, in light of the reactions of the MEPs tasked with examining the revision of the directives and experience acquired in the member states.
The Commission is presenting a raft of measures which will help to achieve the target laid down. With a budget of €2 billion, the Connecting Europe Facility will financially support the setting in place of e-procurement infrastructure from 2014, on the basis of the experience gathered through the pilot project PEPPOL. The European structural funds will also contribute.
The European institution also recommends the widespread dissemination of the process for moving towards e-procurement for public contracts to the public authorities. A European conference dedicated to this issue will be held on Tuesday 26 June. Wishing to lead by example, the Commission has pledged to move to 100% e-procurement by June 2015, one year before the target laid down in the revised European legislation. Companies wishing to tender will be able to present their tenders in electronic form only before the end of this year. (MB/transl.fl)