Brussels, 05/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 5 September 2013, the parliamentary committee on the internal market (IMCO) confirmed the trialogue agreement reached on review of European legislation on awarding public procurement contracts and, for the first time, introducing a framework for concession contracts (see EUROPE 10873, 10875 and 10890).
MEPs adopted by a show of hands the agreement reached in institutional trialogue in June under the Irish Presidency of the EU Council on review of the procurement directives (2004/17 and 2004/18) and on the proposal for a “concession” directive (2011/0437). The legislative package includes reports by Marc Tarabella (S&D, Belgium) on the awarding of public procurement contracts (including in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors). Tarabella was pleased to have achieved simplification while remaining attentive to transposition of the legislation within two years. The European confederation of SMEs and medium-sized companies in the construction sector was quick to voice its pleasure at this new agreement.
The second chapter of the package comprises the report by Philippe Juvin (EPP, France) on attributing concession contracts. Juvin underlined that this was the first European legislation that is specific to concessions, bringing an end to some ten years of mistaken jurisprudence. The directive will apply to concessions and work valued at over €5 million, excluding the drinking water sector.
No date has yet been fixed for the vote in plenary session but the chairman of the IMCO committee, Malcolm Harbour (ECR, UK) is counting on a vote by the end of the year. (MD/transl.jl)