The formal conclusion of the Protocol amending the Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA), the only legally binding agreement in the WTO on the subject of government procurement, was proposed by the Commission to the Council. The European Parliament will also be called upon to give its consent to the conclusion of the Protocol.

According to WTO estimates, the revision of the GPA will bring extra procurement opportunities worth around €80 billion. The European Commission, therefore, proposed to the Council the formal conclusion of the Protocol amending the Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA). This Agreement is the only legally binding agreement in the WTO on the subject of government procurement. Parties of the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) reached an agreement on an updated set of tender rules in December 2011.

In total, 15 parties are currently part of the agreement (Armenia, Canada, the EU with respect to its 27 Member States, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Korea, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands with respect to Aruba, Norway, Singapore, Switzerland, Chinese Taipei, and the United States). The revised GPA will enter into force when two-thirds of the Parties will have ratified the agreement. The Commission assures that the revised GPA should facilitate and attract new members to join.

The Commission also stressed that the revised agreement will mean more transparent rules for international public procurement; new market access opportunities; accessions and benefits for developing countries; and also the Parties already agreed on work programmes that address issues such as sustainable procurement, support for small and medium enterprises and monitoring of exclusions and restrictions.