Activities of Zigmantas BALČYTIS related to 2011/2048(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Modernisation of public procurement (debate)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on modernisation of public procurement
Amendments (21)
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls on the Commission to carry out the necessary analysis of rules stemming from EU case law in order to clarify the legal framework and give more legal security to all parties;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses that public procurement reform should result in more efficient public spending, ensure public funds are used efficiently and optimise procurement results, by applying clear, transparent and flexible procedures that will allow bidders throughout the European Union to compete on an equal footing;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that public procurement is a key market based instrument which plays a role in fostering sustainable employment and working conditions, in creating an environment more conducive to innovation for companies, in encouraging green public procurement and improving conditions for businesses, above all SMEs;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Appeals to the European Commission to present a thoroughgoingdetailed and exhaustive legislative initiative on public procurement which will bring more flexibility, transparency and certainty to the sector and thus avoid frequent reforms in the future, which is the main reason for high costs and administrative burdens for participants, which significantly and disproportionately narrow SME access to public contracts;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Notes that public procurement policy should in the first instance ensure the effective use of funds by the Member States and achieve optimum results in terms of public procurement through the application of clear, transparent and flexible criteria;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Notes that certain Member States already apply efficient public procurement award procedures that ensure transparency and the proper use of taxpayers’ money; asks the Commission to study Member States’ good practices in this field and identify the most effective principles for public procurement in the EU;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Invites the Commission to review the existing qualitative selection criteria by replacingadding to the balance sheets, as proof of the economic operator's economic and financial standing, withe cash flow statements, which represent a viable feature of financial soundness.
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls the Commission to introduce means to simplify the procurement process and to reduce the administrative burden of bidders in order to improve the SMEs' chances to access public contracts as emphasised in the Parliament's report on Small Business Act (2008/2237(/INI)); stresses that these means will also reduce the risk of administrative errors; suggests working with a central or regional register or passport in order for SMEs to reduce the administrative burden caused by the requirements in the selection stage;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Notes that public procurement policy should in the first instance ensure the effective use of funds by the Member States, achieve optimum results in terms of public procurement through the application of clear, transparent and flexible procedures, and allow European businesses to compete on an equal footing throughout the European Union;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Notes that, with a view to improving the commercial environment, and particularly the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in public procurement, competition should be able to take place on an equal footing throughout the EU;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Asks for clarification of the scope of the directives; recalls that the main purpose of public procurement is the purchase of goods, works and services by public authorities to accommodate the needs of their citizens and ensure effective use of public funds; points out that there must be a direct benefit for the contracting authority in order for a procedure to qualify as public procurement;
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses that the European public procurement market is more open than the markets in the EU’s international partners, which is why the EU’s undertakings are not able to compete on an equal footing with foreign undertakings and have difficulty accessing third country markets; calls on the Commission to examine public procurement policy towards third countries with a view to ensuring more balanced and mutual access to EU and foreign public procurement contracts;
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Notes that some Member States are already applying effective public procurement procedures, ensuring transparency and the effective use of taxpayers' money; calls on the Commission to analyse best practice in the Member States in this field and to establish the most effective principles for the conclusion of public procurement contracts at EU level;
Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that SMEs are the backbone of the EU economy and have a huge potential for job creation, growth and innovation and that greater access to procurement markets can assist SMEs in unlocking this potential; urges the Commission to assess the need, as a matter of urgency, for legislative measures at European level to ensure that contracting authorities make the most of the economic and innovative potential of SMEs;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses that the European public procurement market is more open than the markets of the EU’s international partners and that, as a result, European companies cannot compete with third- country companies on a level playing field and continue to have difficulties in gaining access to third-country markets; calls on the Commission to ensure reciprocity in the opening of markets and access to public procurement contracts, both in Europe and elsewhere, in accordance with agreements between the EU and third countries;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Notes that certain Member States already apply sufficiently efficient public procurement procedures that ensure greater transparency and the better use of taxpayers’ money; asks the Commission to study Member States’ best practices in this field and identify the most effective principles for public procurement in the EU;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Takes the view that, in order to develop the full potential of public procurement, the criterion of the lowest price should be removed, and that in principle there should be only one option for the award of contracts: the most economically advantageous tender – including the entire life-cycle costs of the relevant goods, services or works – should be chosen, as this would have a positive impact on innovation because economic operators would have an incentive to create sustainable products;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Advocates clear and simp, simple and flexible rules with a reduction in the level of detail and greater reliance upon the general principles of transparency, equal treatment and non- discrimination;
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Points out that SMEs do not generally have significant and specialised administrative capacity and that it is thus essential to minimise the administrative burden imposed on them;
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Points out that contracting authorities should take greater advantage of the possibilities of dividing public contracts into lots, which would give SMEs a better chance of participating in public procurement in qualitative and quantitative terms and would improve the level of competition;