Brussels, 05/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 3 February, the European Parliament adopted the own initiative report by Malcolm Harbour (EPP-ED, UK) on pre-commercial procurement. Launched by public entities, these contracts refer to research services seeking to develop a limited number of goods and services in areas such as health, transport and energy. The EP believes that it is not necessary to regulate to promote pre-commercial procurement. However, training guidelines and the sharing of best practice are necessary to better realise the opportunities offered by this kind of public contract. “Public authorities spend €1,800 billion on public procurement every year. How much of that procurement is actually spent on investigating, researching and encouraging the development of new solutions? Less than 1% of that total procurement budget,” said Harbour on the eve of the plenary session. “Triggering a strong public sector demand for the development of new innovative products and services in Europe can make a difference, especially for our SME,” opined Information Society Commissioner Viviane Reding. She spoke of the next stages on this issue: support for information and experience-sharing, exploration of possibly encouraging public procurers in several member states to launch joint pre-commercial procurement plans, taking account of this type of public contract in the March communication on an enhanced research and innovation strategy in Europe. Furthermore, the Commission has already launched calls for proposals to set up networks of public entities involved in pre-commercial procurement as part of Community programmes (Interreg, CIP and 7th framework programme). (M.B./transl.rt)