Communication on the EU’s public procurement strategy. ‘Making Public Procurement work in and for Europe’

Background and further information:

EU public procurement legislation requires all public contracts above a certain threshold to be put out for tender respecting the principles of transparency, equal treatment and non-discrimination. These rules were further simplified in 2014. Rather than only award a contract on the basis of the best price, authorities are encouraged to integrate qualitative criteria, demand innovative, energy saving solutions or insisting on sustainable and socially inclusive approaches.

With the initiative presented on this occasion, the Commission aims to help public authorities understand and take full advantage of the possibilities of public procurement, might it be funded by the EU or not.

The European Commission published on 3 October 2017 a Communication on a public procurement strategy which sets outs the overall policy framework and defines clear priorities to improve procurement in practice and support investment within the European Union.

Alongside this Communication, the Commission also launched:

+ a Communication on a mechanism for large infrastructure projects [COM/2017/573];

+ a Recommendation to professionalise public buyers;

+ a Consultation on a draft guidance on public procurement of innovation.

• Primary Source

European Commission: DG Communication: MEMO/17/3544, 03.10.17: Efficient and professional public procurement http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-17-3544_en.htm

European Commission: DG Communication: IP/17/3543, 03.10.17: Increasing the impact of public investment through efficient and professional procurement http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-3543_en.htm

European Commission: DG Communication: SPEECH/17/3682, 03.10.17: Commission initiative to carry out public procurement more efficiently and in a sustainable manner http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-17-3682_en.htm

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