Brussels, 03/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - The Council has definitively adopted the framework and sector directives on public procurement, which focus on non-discriminatory access to tenders in the EU. These tenders will now operate on the principle of providing the most economic benefits. Environmental and social criteria can also be introduced by the adjudication powers. Parliament reached its decision in third reading during the last session (EUROPE 30 January p 10). These texts will enter into force after their publication in the Official Journal and will then be transposed 21 months later.
The Commission points out in a press statement that these texts will replace the directives adopted in the 1970s and last updated at the beginning of the 1990s. According to a working document released last Tuesday, the opening up to cross-border competition of public procurement will allow for a 30% fall in the price paid by the public authorities for goods and services. Between 1995-2001, the percentage of tenders published in the Official Journal of the European Communities has practically doubled, increasing from less than 55,000 to more than 106,000. Nevertheless, it is only around 16% of public procurement are publishes Community-wide. The commission has stated that no Member State would have a public deficit if competition and performance of these sectors were improved by encouraging a 10% price reduction, which would appear to be completely attainable objective in light of evidence that featured in the report.