Peter Šťastný, on behalf of the PPE Group. – Mr President, as a shadow rapporteur speaking on behalf of the PPE Group, I would like to express our positive stance on the revision of the GPA. It increases the clarity and transparency of the text, brings it closer to the EU Procurement Directives, and significantly extends its coverage by securing the EU roughly EUR 30 billion of additional market-access opportunities.

GPA+ will represent a significant step ahead in reinforcing the openness of public procurement. This will be achieved, inter alia, through a free-of-charge centralised electronic database on procurement notices, clearer rules on the selection of suppliers and electronic procurement procedures. Enabling transitional measures for developing countries, the GPA+ could also propel other partners to join.

Finally, the revised GPA could create new leverage in the ongoing trade negotiations being conducted by the EU and lead to a successful conclusion of 12-year long negotiations.

The conclusion of the ratification process in the EU is also an important political signal in view of the WTO Ministerial Conference being held in Indonesia in the first week of December.