Public procurement in the European community: Is a fully integrated market achievable?

Abstract

This article addresses the question of how far the European Commission's (EC) new procurement rules will affect the governance and award of procurement contracts by the Member States. The goals of the EC are outlined, and some of the reasons why a fully integrated market in procurement is not achievable are presented. The author argues that the impact of the new procurement rules on the national governance of contract awards will be patchy and variable. Italy and the UK are singled out as examples of Member States whose national approach to procurement is reinforcing EC trends towards greater openness in contract awards. Despite this, there is still considerable scope for the Member States to avoid the full implementation of the rules.