Tag: public procurement

Convinced that economic growth patterns of the past will not be viable in the future, the European Commission has started a crucial dialogue with stakeholders to ensure that social enterprises are given the means and the recognition to grow, as it is fully aware that policies alone are not enough.

The European Union is on the cusp of writing public procurement rules which favour patent- and royalty-free technologies, according to software giants who argue that the rules echo Chinese public procurement laws. 

National governments are holding back EU regional funding from local authorities that work with private contractors to deliver transport, waste and water services, according to E3PO, a group which promotes public-private partnerships (PPPs).

There is no evidence that collaboration between governments and the private sector can help cut the cost of major infrastructure projects, a leading health policy expert told EurActiv Slovakia. David Price of Edinburgh University said public-private partnerships (PPPs) ultimately cost more and deliver worse outcomes.

Public procurement should become the driver of new technology developments and the main vehicle for economic recovery, Malcolm Harbour, the new head of the European Parliament's internal market committee, told EurActiv in an interview.

Public authorities should back innovative SMEs from the beginning of the procurement process, regardless of whether their product or service ultimately wins a public contract, MEP Malcolm Harbour (EPP-ED, UK) told EurActiv in an interview.

The European Parliament has endorsed a Commission proposal to make public authorities use 'green' criteria, including energy consumption and CO2 and pollutant emissions, when procuring vehicles for public transport fleets.

Reducing the administrative burden on business "would really make a difference" by saving €1.3 billion a year, write Fabian Zuleeg and Marie-Hélène Fandel of the European Policy Centre.

As part of its drive to promote more sustainable urban transport, the Commission has revived a proposal requiring government authorities to ensure that their public transport fleets and other public-utility vehicles, such as garbage lorries or delivery vans, are clean and energy efficient. 

A Directive aimed at ensuring more transparent public procurement and helping businesses to appeal against illegal award procedures, corruption and national favouritism should come into force shortly, after Parliament adopted a compromise text agreed with member states.

As Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy prepares to sort out the rules governing public-private partnerships (PPPs), Michael Burnett, public procurement expert and senior lecturer at the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA), tells EurActiv why it is so important to develop PPPs in Europe.

A recent expert report argues that public sector demand for new products and services can boost innovation and increase investment in and take-up of related R&D.

Public procurement is one of the cornerstones of the single European market. This paper in SSD's EU Accession Series focusses on the key aspects of public procurement in the Czech Republic.

A conciliation deal reached between Council and Parliament allows for social and environmental aspects to be considered in awarding public procurement contracts.

Public authorities may use social and environmental criteria when awarding contracts for a public tender. This was the outcome of a decision by the European Court of Justice in the "Helsinki Concordia Bus case" on 17 September.

The Consumer and Internal Market Council will on 1 March mainly focus on the community and software patents, consumer issues and the euro and preparations for the internal market discussions for the Barcelona Summit.