The European Commission launched an statement in which defends the reform proposals to modernise the existing tools and instruments on public tendering. According to the Commission, the revision of the public procurement Directives will improve the access to the public procurement for SMEs.

The revision of the public procurement Directives announced by the Commission in December is part of an overall programme to thoroughly modernise public tendering in the European Union. This programme also includes a Directive on concessions, which until now have been only partially regulated at European level and present specific features which justify a separate text, while maintaining consistency with the general reform.

The Commission wants, thanks to this reform, to encourage access to public procurement for SMEs. Access to public procurement for SMEs will be increased and made easier by cutting administrative burden. The reform announced includes strong incentives to divide tenders into lots and limit the financial capacity requirements for tenders.

The efficiency of public tendering has become a priority for all Member States, in view of the current budgetary constraints. The reform of legislation on public procurement is actually one of the twelve priority actions set out in the Single Market Act adopted in April 2011. The Commission intends with this reform to be more flexible and to get simple instruments which allow public authorities and their suppliers to conclude transparent, competitive contracts as easily as possible and at the best value for money.