Written by Jana Titievskaia (1st edition),

© sahachat / Adobe Stock

The EU has opened up its public procurement markets to third countries to a large degree, yet many of these countries have not granted the EU comparable access. In 2012, the European Commission tabled a proposal for an international procurement instrument (IPI). It then revised the proposal in 2015, taking on board some recommendations from Council and Parliament. However, the revised proposal did not advance owing to differences in Member States’ positions. In 2019, discussions in Council gained new momentum in the context of a changed global trading environment, and growing recognition of the need to take a more strategic stance vis-à-vis China. The IPI would give the EU leverage in negotiating the reciprocal opening of public procurement markets in third countries.

Versions

Amended proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the access of third-country goods and services to the Union’s internal market in public procurement and procedures supporting negotiations on access of Union goods and services to the public procurement markets of third countries
Committee responsible: International Trade (INTA) Revised legislative proposal:
COM(2016) 34
Rapporteur: Daniel Caspary (EPP, Germany)

Initial proposal: COM(2012) 124
Shadow rapporteurs: Inmaculada Rodríguez-Piñero Fernández (S&D, Spain)
Liesje Schreinemacher (Renew, the Netherlands)
Reinhard Bütikofer (Greens/EFA, Germany)
Geert Bourgeois (ECR, Belgium)		 2012/0060(COD)

Ordinary legislative procedure (COD) (Parliament and Council on equal footing – formerly ‘co-decision’)
Next steps expected: Awaiting progress towards general approach in Council following deadlock, before Parliament finalises its position for trilogue negotiations

EU Legislation in progress timeline