In accordance with the Rules for Participation[1], the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7, 2007-2013) is open to the participation of legal entities from any country in the world, unless there are sanctions adopted by the Council which currently is not the case for Israel. Therefore, entities established in Israel and created under Israeli law are considered to be eligible for participation and for obtaining funding in FP7. There is no restriction as to where eligible participants may carry out part of their research and, hence, such entities can carry out work in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPtT). The Commission is aware that AHAVA Laboratories and the Israeli Antiquities Authority have received funding to a total EUR 1.4 million and EUR 0.114 million respectively, part of which may have been expended in the oPt.

EU public procurement acquis provides rules regarding transparency, open competition and sound procedural management which should lead to a fair procurement process. As such, it does not contain specific provisions detailing the conditions regarding the exclusion of tenders. The Commission proposals on the reform of the Public Procurement Directives[2] and on an International Procurement Instrument[3] are currently being discussed with the Council and the Parliament. The Commission cannot prejudge the outcome of these discussions and, therefore, is unable to comment on them.

• [1] OJ L 391, 20.12.2006, p. 1.
• [2] http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/publicprocurement/modernising_rules/reform_proposals_en.htm
• [3] http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/publicprocurement/modernising_rules/international_access/index_en.htm

OJ C 269 E, 18/09/2013