Abstract
Sustainable public procurement indicates that procurement is about more than just saving money. Other important interests such as social and environmental considerations can be promoted through public procurement. Thus, the Member States may use their purchasing power to procure goods and services that foster innovation, respect the environment and combat climate change while improving employment, public health and social conditions. However, the objective of the procurement rules is primarily to strengthen the single market and the EU's competitiveness. This article will discuss how sustainable procurement may be reconciled with the EU internal market law in general. It is the view of the author that contracting authorities within the EU cannot be given full freedom to set social and environmental requirements for the award of a public contract as such a development would undermine the Single Market. The newly proposed Directives on public procurement can therefore not be interpreted as a carte blanche for sustainable procurement. They show a possible way to foster innovation, improve the environment, public health and social conditions, but it should not be seen as a particularly simple or highly efficient way. (Less)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: European Procurement & Public Private Partnership Law Review
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.