The European Commission has launched a consultation on expanding the use of electronic procurement in the internal market: European Commission acts to expand the use of e-procurement in the EU (18 October 2010, press release IP/10/1347; in English, French and German).
According to internal market and services commissioner Michel Barnier, the use of information and communication technology in public procurement increases the speed and efficiency of public purchasing while significantly cutting the costs when participating in tenders.
As often, the Commission offers background information in the form of FAQs: Frequently asked questions: e-Procurement (18 October 2010, MEMO/10/499; only in English).
The Public procurement main page of the Commission offers thematic links to various aspects of public purchasing in the internal market; also in French Marchés publics and in German Öffentliches Auftragswesen.
e-CERTIS database
The Commission is offering access to its e-CERTIS database which provides an on-line storehouse of the documents which are most frequently requested in the 27 Member States (for example, evidence of compliance with fiscal obligations or social security obligations or evidence of economic and financial standing). It allows users to identify such documents and match them with their local equivalent. The use of e-CERTIS helps business operators to reduce costs and uncertainty due to the lack of knowledge about the different certificates requested by the various national contracting authorities:
You can access the e-CERTIS webpage here. The User Guide is in English, but a brochure is available in 21 languages.
Consultation web page
The e-procurement consultation runs until 31 January 2011, and from the consultation web page you can access the Green Paper in 22 official EU languages. Here is a link to the English version:
Green Paper on expanding the use of e-Procurement in the EU; Brussels, 18.10.2010 COM(2010) 571 final (23 pages)
The consultation document is accompanied by the staff working document SEC(2010) 1214. On the consultation page it goes under the name of Evaluation Report and it can be accessed here (162 pages).
The COM and SEC documents have not yet been posted on Eur-Lex under Preparatory acts.
Target groups
Even if the consultation is open to all citizens and organisations, the Commission expects contributions particularly from member states, large procurement agencies and contracting authorities, the ICT industry, procurement specialists in the private and public sector and representatives of business trade associations.
Ralf Grahn
P.S. A Fistful of Euros describes itself as a webzine and a weblog, writing from a pan-European perspective. It is one of the best researched and most influential Euroblogs, widely read with a policy focus which engages many and affects everyone: the economy.
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Showing posts with label public purchasing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label public purchasing. Show all posts
Friday, 22 October 2010
Wednesday, 6 May 2009
EU: Fair Trade Communication
The Commission’s Communication on Fair Trade has now been posted on the Eur-Lex web pages (under 5 May 2009, the date of adoption):
Communication Contributing to Sustainable Development: The role of Fair Trade and non-governmental trade-related sustainability assurance schemes (Brussels, 5.5.2009; COM(2009) 215 final) offers an overview and ends with the Commission’s conclusions on the role of public authorities, including public procurement.
For the sake of convenience, here are the conclusions from page 10 and 11:
5. CONCLUSIONS: THE ROLE OF PUBLIC AUTHORITIES AND OF OPERATORS IN RELATION TO FAIR TRADE AND OTHER PRIVATE TRADE-RELATED SUSTAINABILITY ASSURANCE SCHEMES
Given the potential contribution of Fair Trade and other trade-related sustainability assurance schemes to sustainable development, the Commission intends to stay engaged and further support such schemes. Where appropriate, this Communication may be followed by additional initiatives in one or more policy fields. At this stage, the Commission;
Reiterates the importance of maintaining the non-governmental nature of Fair Trade and other similar sustainability schemes throughout the EU. Public regulation could interfere with the workings of dynamic private schemes.
Observe that Fair Trade has a significant presence in much of the EU market and a high level of consumer recognition linked to the development and transparency of standards and principles underlying the system.
Observe that many different types private schemes can contribute towards sustainability objectives, but their multiplicity can carry risks of consumer confusion. The Commission sees scope for further reflection around the principles for maximising the impact of private trade-related sustainability assurance schemes, while avoiding entering into defining what are the appropriate sustainability standards to be followed by these private schemes: This is, however, without prejudice to compliance with relevant sustainability-related standards and legislation set by public authorities.
In this context the Commission;
Recalls that transparency and adequacy of information to consumers about standards of private sustainability schemes are key, and that there could be benefit from arriving at a common understanding of what basic process requirements, such as independent monitoring, are reasonable to expect.
Recalls that further assessment of the impact of private sustainability schemes could be a key step forward.
Intends to explore the scope for further dialogue, co-operation and, where appropriate, convergence between different private labelling schemes to promote possible synergies and enhance clarity for the consumer.
In the context of public purchasing, the Commission;
Underlines the interest of providing guidance to public purchasing authorities help realise the full potential contribution to sustainable development from their decisions.
Underlines that a contracting authority that intends to purchase sustainability assurance goods should use only criteria linked to the subject matter of their purchase and comply with the other relevant EU public procurement rules. Contracting authorities must always allow bidders to prove compliance with these standards by using Fair Trade labels or by other means of proof.
In the context of financing, the Commission;
Intends to continue funding for relevant Fair Trade and other sustainable trade related activities in accordance with its practice to date. This does not exclude the possibility of financing also more targeted actions in order to pursue priorities identified.
Recalls the need to assess the results of analyses of the impact of private sustainability assurance scheme on sustainable development parameters, including the implications for economic, social and developmental criteria in producing countries. Given the focus of private sustainability assurance scheme on the working and living conditions for producers in developing countries, the Commission considers that particular attention should be given to this aspect. Analysis should compare the impact of various private schemes so as to provide a basis for possible further initiatives in this field.
Ralf Grahn
Communication Contributing to Sustainable Development: The role of Fair Trade and non-governmental trade-related sustainability assurance schemes (Brussels, 5.5.2009; COM(2009) 215 final) offers an overview and ends with the Commission’s conclusions on the role of public authorities, including public procurement.
For the sake of convenience, here are the conclusions from page 10 and 11:
5. CONCLUSIONS: THE ROLE OF PUBLIC AUTHORITIES AND OF OPERATORS IN RELATION TO FAIR TRADE AND OTHER PRIVATE TRADE-RELATED SUSTAINABILITY ASSURANCE SCHEMES
Given the potential contribution of Fair Trade and other trade-related sustainability assurance schemes to sustainable development, the Commission intends to stay engaged and further support such schemes. Where appropriate, this Communication may be followed by additional initiatives in one or more policy fields. At this stage, the Commission;
Reiterates the importance of maintaining the non-governmental nature of Fair Trade and other similar sustainability schemes throughout the EU. Public regulation could interfere with the workings of dynamic private schemes.
Observe that Fair Trade has a significant presence in much of the EU market and a high level of consumer recognition linked to the development and transparency of standards and principles underlying the system.
Observe that many different types private schemes can contribute towards sustainability objectives, but their multiplicity can carry risks of consumer confusion. The Commission sees scope for further reflection around the principles for maximising the impact of private trade-related sustainability assurance schemes, while avoiding entering into defining what are the appropriate sustainability standards to be followed by these private schemes: This is, however, without prejudice to compliance with relevant sustainability-related standards and legislation set by public authorities.
In this context the Commission;
Recalls that transparency and adequacy of information to consumers about standards of private sustainability schemes are key, and that there could be benefit from arriving at a common understanding of what basic process requirements, such as independent monitoring, are reasonable to expect.
Recalls that further assessment of the impact of private sustainability schemes could be a key step forward.
Intends to explore the scope for further dialogue, co-operation and, where appropriate, convergence between different private labelling schemes to promote possible synergies and enhance clarity for the consumer.
In the context of public purchasing, the Commission;
Underlines the interest of providing guidance to public purchasing authorities help realise the full potential contribution to sustainable development from their decisions.
Underlines that a contracting authority that intends to purchase sustainability assurance goods should use only criteria linked to the subject matter of their purchase and comply with the other relevant EU public procurement rules. Contracting authorities must always allow bidders to prove compliance with these standards by using Fair Trade labels or by other means of proof.
In the context of financing, the Commission;
Intends to continue funding for relevant Fair Trade and other sustainable trade related activities in accordance with its practice to date. This does not exclude the possibility of financing also more targeted actions in order to pursue priorities identified.
Recalls the need to assess the results of analyses of the impact of private sustainability assurance scheme on sustainable development parameters, including the implications for economic, social and developmental criteria in producing countries. Given the focus of private sustainability assurance scheme on the working and living conditions for producers in developing countries, the Commission considers that particular attention should be given to this aspect. Analysis should compare the impact of various private schemes so as to provide a basis for possible further initiatives in this field.
Ralf Grahn
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