Press Release: Public procurement: EU rules deliver big savings for taxpayers; scope for more gains

The existing EU public procurement Directives have increased cross-border competition in procurement markets and reduced by around 30% the prices paid by public authorities for goods and services, according to a European Commission working document. There remains potential for significant further opening up of procurement markets and therefore for further gains for taxpayers in terms of value for money and strengthening defences against corruption and favouritism. In a market worth over €1,500 billion, i.e. over 16% of total EU GDP, the consequence of such improvements could be enormous.
The legislative package, approved on 2 February 2004 by both the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, modernises and simplifies procurement procedures, for example by facilitating electronic procurement. Its rapid implementation should iron out many remaining difficulties identified by contractors and contracting authorities and further boost cross-border competition.

http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/04/150&format=HTML&rapid=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en&display= http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/04/150&format=HTML&rapid=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en&display=

---