1. EU REGIONAL COOPERATION FOR SMEs ACCESS to PUBLIC PROCUREMENT Forum Single Market Act Committee of Regions Brussels, 30th November 2010.

2. EuroProc Background Public Procurement represents a market estimated at over 16% of the GDP of EU- 27. Yet SMEs as well public sector are not taking full advantage of the potential benefits. Performance of SMEs is low and different among European regions (studies by DG Enterprise, DG Internal Market). Procurement market is competitive, specialized, HHRR and time consuming for SMEs (entry barrier). Major access of SMEs to public procurement contracts is not only a self-standing goal but also a means to contributing to the achievement of the objectives of the Lisbon Strategy. – Priority 1 (Lisbon strategy): – Entrepreneurship and SMEs. Project co-funded by INTERREG IVC Programme, part of the European Territorial Cooperation Objective of the Structural Fund Policies for the Period 2007-2013. INTERREG IVC Programme. (www.interreg4c.eu)www.interreg4c.eu

3. EuroProc Objectives. GENERAL OBJECTIVE. To increase the competitiveness of EU regions and SMEs through the participation in EU tendering systems. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES. Improve the competitiveness and internationalisation of EU SMEs trough public procurement. Create a new business line for SMEs. Recognize and take advantage of the increasing business opportunities existing in public procurement. Change and adapt policy tools to facilitate SMEs participation in public procurement. Provide effective instruments of support in order to overcome the obstacles SMEs face when participating in public procurement markets. CALENDAR: September 2008 – September 2011 BUDGET : 1 513 780,10 Euros (EC Funding 79.17 %)

4. EuroProc Partnership: 11 partners from 10 regions

5. EuroProc Work Plan. EUROPROC Activities : Joint Conferences, Staff exchange, Pilot actions, Training Sessions, Thematic Seminars, Interregional Benchmarking research, Site Visits, Study Visits, Regional Dissemination Events. EUROPROC Main Outputs : Newsletters. Brochures Website: www.europroc.euwww.europroc.eu Guide of Good Practices. Guide of New Approaches to Public Procurement Regional Policy Recommendations

6. EuroProc Outputs: Guide of Good Practices  Objectives: 1.Identify Good Practices on procurement instruments for SMEs (17) 2.Present a methodology for better access to International Public Procurement (IPP) 3.Provide background information to understand the EU legislation on IPP  Target: Business Support Organisations (BSO) and Regional Administrations planning to take further steps into providing the SMEs with services on IPP opportunities.  Background: Benchmarking Survey led towards more than 600 local, regional & national BSO: Out of the 96 collected instruments, 17 practices in 4 categories of services: INFORMATION // TRAINING // COACHING // INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT http://www.europroc.eu/en/deliverables/good-practices/4/

7. EuroProc Outputs: Guide of New Approaches to IPP  Objective: Raising awareness on Hot-Topics in EU and Member States concerning Public Procurement  Target: SMEs and Business Support Organisations  Topics: 4 key issues for the SMEs:  Innovation and Public Procurement  Green Public Procurement  Social Considerations in PP  Electronic Public Procurement  Timing: Publication in English by April’11

8. Gràcies per la vostra atenció! Merci pour votre attention! Tak for Jeres opmærksomhed! Grazie per la vostra attenzione! Multumesc pentru atentie! Obrigado pela vossa atenção Děkujeme za Vaši pozornost! Благодарим за Вашето внимание! Köszönöm a figyelmüket! Thank you for your attention! www.europroc.eu