Brussels, 29/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 28 November, the European Commission suggested updating Regulation2195/2002/EC on a common vocabulary for public contracts (CPC). CPC is a single classification system to standardise the references used to describe the subject matter of public contracts in all official EU languages. Directives 2004/17/EC and 2004/18/EC on the procedures for awarding public contracts will also need to amended to update the CPC, which the Commission hopes to be able to carry out six months after publication of the future regulation in the EU Official Journal.
The draft regulation takes account of technological changes and changes in the needs of users since the EU legislation came into force. It introduces new products and services whose acquisition is put out to competitive tender by the adjudicating authorities. Among the domains covered for the first time or covered in greater depth by the CPC are software and computer applications, medicate devices, airport and air control equipment, sports articles, musical instruments, environmental services, the internet and wireless communications services. The proposed classification also provides a more coherent classification of equipment and services in the defence industry. For further information: http: //ec.europa.eu/internal_market/publicprocurement/e-procurement_en.htm#cpv (M.B.)