Activities of Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ related to 2017/2278(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the public procurement strategy package
Amendments (8)
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that public procurement markets in third countries are often de jure and/or de facto closed to EU bidders; recalls that the Commission estimates that more than half of the global procurement market is currently closed to free international competition owing to protectionist measures, which are globally on a rise, while approximately EUR 352 billion in value of EU public procurement is open to bidders from member countries of the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA)1 ; Recalls that the reciprocity principle in public procurement should be respected and implemented by third countries and our trading partners to ensure that European companies get similar market access as our competitors enjoy in the EU market; Points out that a level-playing field could be restored with the approval of the international procurement instrument; Calls on the Council to unlock the current stalemate with regard to this instrument and calls for a rapid adoption; __________________ 1 Amended IPI proposal (2016).
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses that an annex on government procurement should be included in each future trade agreement with a view to maximising the participation of European companies in foreign tenders and promoting the application of social and environmental criteria, including gender equality criteria in awarding public procurement contracts; Regrets in this regard that 55% of procurement procedures still use the lowest price as the only award criterion instead of MEAT (most economically advantageous tenders);
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Notes that high quality public services depend on modern, transparent and efficient public procurement processes; Recalls therefore that public procurement should be used in a more strategic manner, to obtain better value for each euro of public money spent and to contribute to sustainable growth and jobs and to a more innovative, inclusive economy;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Regrets that clear and consolidated procurement data is often not available and therefore citizens cannot access details of procurement procedures;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the fact that one of the six priority areas for the Commission’s action in the field of public procurement is the improvement of access to procurement markets; stresses that improving access to public procurement markets in third countries, including at the sub-national level, constitutes a strong offensive interest for the EU in trade negotiations on public procurement, given that many EU companies are highly competitive in various sectors; recalls that improved market access to third-country publictrade agreements should be used as a lever to improve access to non-EU procurement markets, and that improved market access, enhanced rules for transparent procurement procedures and innovative, green and social procurement, should be key elements for any trade agreement to be concluded by the EU;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises that any strategy to open up public procurement markets in third countries should take into account the specific needs of SMEs to facilitate their access to markets, as access to third- country public procurement markets can be particularly difficult for them; Notes that cooperation to procure together and to promote joint cross-border public procurement could be helpful in this regard; Calls on the Commission to encourage SMEs-friendly procurement procedures (including cross-border initiatives and tenders division into lots) to be included in trade agreements.
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes that procurement procedures are often associated with complex rules and unnecessary administrative burden; Urges Member States to boost digital transformation and the use of digital technologies of procurement processes, to simplify and accelerate procurement procedures; Stresses that improving procurement skills at all stages of the procurement process, including e-skills, is of vital importance and together with enhanced transparency and openness, can contribute to fighting collusion and eliminating cases of misconduct;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Highlights the importance of the GPA not only for providing de jure access to procurement markets in third countries, but also for enhancing the transparency of procurement procedures; encourages the Commission to promote the development of global and convergent standards for transparent procurement as an important tool for combating corruption; Recalls that enabling the reporting of corruption, simplified procedures and stronger provisions on integrity and transparency for bidders can also be effective tools to combat corruption and foster integrity in public administration; Calls on the Commission to set up effective reporting mechanisms and to strengthen the protection of whistle-blowers against retaliation;