CHANGE OF PERSPECTIVES FROM CANDIDACY TO MEMBERSHIP Peder Blomberg Valletta, 25-26 January 2006

CHANGE OF PERSPECTIVES EARLIER FOCUS: TRANSPOSING AND IMPLEMENTING THE “ACQUIS” CORRECTLY DETAILED REGULATION OF PROCUREMENT (AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS) BUILDING STRONG CONTROL FUNCTIONS

CHANGE OF PERSPECTIVES EARLIER FOCUS: BUILDING SUFFICIENT CENTRAL CAPACITY AND INSTITUTIONS IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT TO CONTRACTING ENTITIES AND ECONOMIC OPERATORS THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION

CHARACTERISATION SUCCESSFUL TRANSPOSITION OF THE EC DIRECTIVES IMPRESSIVE CENTRAL INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY BUT PERSPECTIVE AND FOCUS OFTEN TOO NARROW OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND COMMERCIAL ASPECTS INSUFFICIENTLY UNDERSTOOD AND CONSIDERED

CHARACTERISATION OVERLY FORMALISTIC AND BUREAUCRATIC APPROACH COLLECTIVE DECISION-MAKING AND EX-ANTE CONTROL ERODE THE BASIS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY

MOVING INTO MEMBERSHIP CHANGE OF FOCUS EFFICIENCY AND “VALUE FOR MONEY”SHOULD BE THE OVERRIDING GOAL FOR PUBLIC PROCUREMENT OPERATIONS MANAGED WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE “ACQUIS”.

THROUGH: PROFESSIONALISATION OF THE PROCUREMENT FUNCTION; A WIDER APPROACH TO THE CONCEPT OF PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (MORE THAN TENDERING);

A CHANGE OF GOVERNANCE CULTURE: FROM A CENTRALISED TO A DECENTRALISED PERSPECTIVE; FROM A COLLECTIVE TO AN ACCOUNTABLE DECISION-MAKING CULTURE FROM A CONTROLLING TO A SUPPORTIVE, CONFIDENCE-BASED CULTURE FROM A “COMPLIANCE”- BASED TO A PERFORMANCE- ORIENTED CULTURE

REGULATORY DESIGN- OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THE EC DIRECTIVES- CONSISTENT WITH EFFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS; READINESS AND OPENNESS FOR CHANGE AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS; ACCESS TO TOOLS AND METHODS TO MEASURE PERFORMANCE AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY

REDEFINE THE ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF CENTRAL PROCUREMENT BODIES BUILD THE PPO AS KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERT SERVICE CENTRES FOR CONTRACTING ENTITIES AND ECONOMIC OPERATORS (PROFESSIONALISATION). FOCUS ON COORDINATION AND DEVELOPMENT/IMPROVEMENT OF THE PROCUREMENT SYSTEM.

REDEFINE THE ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF CENTRAL PROCUREMENT BODIES MONITORING FOR THE PURPOSE OF DIAGNOSING AND IMPROVING THE PROCUREMENT SYSTEM. CONTROL SHOULD BE EXERCISED MORE THROUGH THE COMPLAINT REVIEW MECHANISMS, EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL AUDIT AND THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION .

TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE MEMBERSHIP ACCESS TO AN EUROPEAN- WIDE PROCUREMENT KNOWLEDGE BASE. UTILISE THE POTENTIALS OF THE INTERNAL MARKET. COOPERATION AND COORDINATION AMONG MS FOR MUTUAL BENEFIT