Public procurement and the public interest/administrative requirements

26.5.2011

Question for written answer E-005474/2011
to the Commission
Rule 117
Bendt Bendtsen (PPE)

In its Green Paper on the modernisation of EU public procurement policy[1], the Commission mentions the possibility of linking ‘new’ societal challenges, such as improving public health and the employment situation, to public procurement. The Commission does, however, state at the same time in its Green Paper that this can have a negative impact on the objective of reducing administrative burdens.

1. How will the Commission ensure that the introduction of social criteria does not result in greater administrative burdens, and that access to public procurement is not impeded for SMEs in particular?

2. Has the Commission considered how to avoid a situation in which public authorities impose requirements that only a few companies are able to meet, and thus make use of this opportunity to favour certain national companies that already meet these requirements?

3. Will the linking of certain requirements, such as those on employment, not make it necessary for the Commission to renegotiate bilateral and multilateral agreements with third countries?

• [1] Green Paper on the modernisation of EU public procurement policy — Towards a more efficient European Procurement Market, COM(2011)0015.

OJ C 365 E, 15/12/2011