Text tabled : A7-0326/2011

  Sophie Auconie (PPE), in writing. – (FR) Highlighted in the Europe 2020 strategy, the European Union policy on public procurement is central to achieving the targets relating to innovation, competitiveness and the environment. The fact is, this policy needs to be modernised. The Rühle report, which I endorse, makes a number of recommendations: a clearer legal framework; developing the full potential of public procurement, for example, by putting the emphasis on the most advantageous bids in the long term (economic, social and environmental benefits) rather than on the criterion of lowest price; and allowing more flexible procedures to improve access to public procurement, particularly for SMEs.