Renegotiation of the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

22.11.2006

ORAL QUESTION WITH DEBATE O-0128/06
pursuant to Rule 108 of the Rules of Procedure
by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna, on behalf of the Committee on International Trade
to the Commission

The plurilateral Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) negotiated in the framework of the WTO took effect on 1 January 1996.

 

Although limited both in its scope and number of participants (36), this Agreement plays an essential role in opening as much as possible of public procurement business (goods, services and construction contracts) to foreign competition and ensuring transparent, fair and non-discriminatory conditions for private bidders.

 

The GPA has been subject to renegotiation for a number of years with a view to improving its provisions and achieving the greatest possible extension of its coverage among all parties on the basis of mutual reciprocity. In this context, amendments to the agreement are currently being considered and a request-offer process is taking place in Geneva with a view to reaching a conclusion towards the beginning of 2007.

 

Could the Commission explain what have been the main priorities of the EU in this renegotiation and whether it is confident that these objectives will be achieved?

 

Could the Commission indicate what kind of offers it has submitted to its negotiating partners on behalf of the EU and the extent to which a further opening of EU public procurement markets to foreign competition could take place as a result of this renegotiation?

 

Could the Commission indicate what kind of requests it has submitted to its negotiating partners on behalf of the EU and the extent to which a further opening of the public procurement markets of the countries concerned could take place as a result of this renegotiation?

 

Does the Commission consider that the GPA is a balanced agreement and that EU companies enjoy in foreign public procurement markets, especially those of our main trading partners, a degree of access which is commensurate to the opening of EU public procurement markets to foreign competition?

 

Could the Commission indicate whether any specific steps have been taken in the ongoing renegotiation of the GPA to ensure better access to public procurement markets for European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)?

 

Could the Commission indicate how the recent orientations set up in the Communication 'Global Europe' will impact the current negotiations? (nota bene: This Communication notably envisages targeting discriminatory practices in order to ensure a level playing field).

 

Could the Commission indicate when and under what conditions China could become a contracting party to the GPA and, more generally, what are the prospects of a geographical extension of this agreement to other countries?

 

Could the Commission indicate what steps it is taking to ensure that a renegotiated GPA will fully respect the interests of developing countries if they wish to participate in the GPA?

 

 

Tabled: 22.11.2006

Forwarded: 24.11.2006

Deadline for reply: 01.12.2006