2023-12-04 22:58:43
In theory, EU public procurement rules should lead to as much competition as possible in the large European internal market. Above certain thresholds, a tender is mandatory throughout the EU. The idea behind it is that as many companies as possible submit offers at home and abroad, so that more supply and more competition lead to lower prices, lower expenses for public clients and thus less burden on taxpayers.
The reality is different, as a special report from the European Court of Auditors published on Monday shows. Over the past decade, competition in public procurement in EU member states has declined significantly, the report says. “We have to talk about a lost decade. All indicators of competition have deteriorated significantly during this time,” said Vice President Helga Berger, who was responsible for the report.
#bureaucracy #competition