Question for written answer E-002666/2020 to the Council Rule 138 Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, Stéphane Bijoux, Gilles Boyer, Sylvie Brunet, , Jérémy Decerle, , , , , , Irène Tolleret, Véronique Trillet-Lenoir, Stéphanie Yon-Courtin

Subject: Reciprocity and access to public procurement markets

According to the Commission, over half of the public procurement markets around the world are closed to international competition, while the EU’s public procurement markets, worth close to EUR 352 billion, are open to competition.

In 2012, and then again in 2016, the Commission proposed an International Procurement Instrument (IPI). The document is blocked at present, in spite of the European Council’s call on 21 March 2019 for discussions to start again. The IPI would help achieve reciprocity in access to public procurement markets and play a part in ensuring fair competition for EU businesses.

At the same time, the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), to which the EU is a party, aims at open, fair and transparent competition in government procurement. Nonetheless, only 48 states have become members,

Can the Council answer the following:

1. What steps will be taken to break the deadlock over the file on the International Procurement Instrument and ensure full reciprocity in access to public procurement markets?

2. 2. What recommendations will it make concerning WTO reform in order to reinforce the GPA and demand reciprocity?

3. 3. Will it call on the Commission to propose legislation granting a preference to EU businesses when EU public procurement contracts are granted, as certain non-EU countries do already?

PE651.700v01-00