2012 Regional Policy Paper #1: Increasing integrity and EU citizens' trust in public procurement
Public procurement systems across the European Union (EU) need to be robust, transparent and open to public monitoring. Only then can governments, bidders and contractors be held to account for how public money is spent, and corruption can be prevented. Corruption siphons off public funds, obstructs the functioning of the single market, and distorts fair competition. For these reasons, it is vital for the EU to ensure public procurements are sound, transparent and accountable. Public procurement at the EU-level is currently being reviewed; the inclusion of strong anti-corruption provisions is a way of increasing efficiency and creating the potential for substantial and immediate cost-savings. This is particularly urgent given the European sovereign-debt crisis, crippled economic activity across the region and national austerity measures that have made it necessary to make each Euro count. Only a strong and effective legal framework and strict enforcement practices can guarantee such a scenario.
