11. We have given further consideration to the following on the basis of
further information from the Government. We maintain our opinion[25] that it raises questions of political importance, but now make no
recommendation for its further consideration:--
H M Treasury
(17845)
12978/96
COM(96)583 |
Commission Green Paper on public procurement in the European
Union: Exploring the way forward. |
| Legal base: |
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Introduction
11.1 We first considered this Commission Green Paper, which is aimed at stimulating
debate on public procurement policy, on 5 March, when we asked for further information from the
Government on the consultation exercise which it had in hand, and also on the Directives on public
procurement which the Commission indicated the UK had not implemented.
Further information from the Government
11.2 The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Mrs Knight), in a letter of 18 March,
tells us that there are now no public procurement Directives which the United Kingdom has not
implemented:
" UK implementation of the EC Procurement Directives was completed when the Utilities
Contracts Regulations 1996 (SI 1996/2911) came into effect in December 1996. This came too late
to be taken into account in the Commission's chart showing implementation and I understand that
there have also been developments in other Member States."
11.3 The Minster has provided us with a note on the progress of the consultation
exercise, which we print below. She tells us:
"The Treasury's consultation exercise has shown widespread support for the view that
the Directives, particularly those covering the public sector, need to be simplified, clarified and
brought up-to-date to take account of current market circumstances...
"In formulating the Government's response to the Green Paper we propose to maintain
our policy that public procurement is an important aspect of the Single Market, for which EC
measures must be effective without imposing unnecessary burdens or constraints. I understand that
the Commission will refer to this field in its Action Plan for the Amsterdam Council and that it
will bring forward detailed proposals on the way forward in a paper for publication in the Autumn.
We are stressing the need for the Commission to ensure that implementation is effective throughout
the EC."
Conclusion
11.4 We thank the Minster for providing us with the additional information we had
requested. We are now clearing the document.
25. (17845)12978/96; see HC 36-xvi (1996-97), paragraph 7 (5 March 1997). Back
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