Brussels, 10/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 10 December, the Competitiveness Council reached a political agreement in principle on three legislative texts about the issuing of public procurement contracts: two directives governing the European rules in force (directives 2004/17/EC and 2004/18/EC) and a directive bringing in a regulatory framework for concessions (see EUROPE 10747). On the “classic markets” directive, the ministers' discussions focused, amongst other things, on transposition deadlines, which have been laid down at 24 months in the proposed compromise of the Cypriot Presidency. The member states reached an agreement on the relationship between the “special sectors” directive and the draft regulation bringing in greater reciprocity into the public procurement of the EU and third countries. On concessions, a French proposal relaxing the framework of the negotiation procedure won the support of the Council. EUROPE will return to this. (MB/transl.fl)