The Communication presented by the European Commission sets out a strategy to move to full e-procurement for all public purchases by 2016. It proposes a series of flanking measures meant to support all stakeholders, including SMEs, in completing the transition on time. So far, e-procurement is still used in only 5-10% of procurement procedures carried out across the EU.

The European Commission adopted a Communication containing its strategy to use fully the e-procurement in the EU. Electronic procurement (e-procurement) refers to the use of electronic communication by public sector organisations when buying supplies and services or tendering public works. The strategy is based on the reports of public entities that have already implemented e-procurement, saving of between 5% and 20% of their procurement expenditure. The Commission already announced measures to boost e-procurement in July 2011.

The strategy proposes a series of measures such as supporting financially and technically the development of e-procurement infrastructure via EU programmes and funding; identifying and sharing best practice in the area of e-procurement; monitoring the level of take-up and the benefits of e-procurement; and implementing a wide-ranging dissemination strategy to inform stakeholders about the opportunities and benefits offered by e-procurement. The Communication also announces that the European Commission itself will move towards full e-procurement by mid-2015 and that the Commission will make its e-procurement solutions available to Member States.

According to the Commission, e-procurement can also participate in providing new sources of economic growth and jobs. It can significantly simplify the life of companies, especially SMEs, by increasing the transparency of and access to tender opportunities and by reducing the costs of participating in a tender (reduced mail costs, less printing, etc.). Experience in the EU and beyond shows that the use of e-procurement has increased the participation of SMEs in public procurement procedures.