On Wednesday, January15, the Parliament ratified the review of the “public procurement” directive. One of its principles is to get a better price-quality ratio when contracts are awarded. The procurement criterion mostly based on price is replaced by the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) criterion, whereby purchasers should be able to add other criteria, notably environmental and social considerations. This legislative package will be applicable as of 2016, which means that the Member States have two years to transpose it into national law.
Every year, the public powers spend and invest nearly one fifth of gross domestic product in Europe. From then on, it is important to use this godsend properly, setting simple, transparent and consistent joint regulations. Three years ago, the European Commission presented a reform of the laws supervising public markets of goods, construction and services, as well as concession contracts.
Do you have information to share with us?