EU Cuts Red Tape: Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek Welcomes "E-Procurement"

Usually the EU is berated for too much red tape. With regard to award procedures the opposite is the case. The EU Commission wants to make the life of companies and public authorities greatly easier.

"The EU is making the award of public contracts possible by electronic means," lawyer Dr. Ute Jasper points to the recent initiative from Brussels. This is also sorely needed: "The preparation of the numerous forms is sometimes more expensive than the actual contract," procurement law expert Ute Jasper knows.

"E-procurement" is the use of electronic tools by public authorities in public bid invitations, thus the dry definition. Dr. Ute Jasper from law firm Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek's Düsseldorf office has been providing counsel nationwide in award procedures for decades.

"Award procedures are too time-consuming and cumbersome. The initiative of the EU Commission shows that it is also possible to proceed in an easier way," Dr. Jasper also praised the new EU database e-CERTIS. With e-CERTIS, companies and contracting authorities can find out quickly through the internet, which documents are required for EU contract awards.

The e-procurement is part of a comprehensive initiative to encourage state agencies to use the internet even more. Keyword e-government: On October 18, 2010, the EU Commission provided a "Green Book" to allow contracting authorities and bidders to soon conduct business with each other completely electronically. The "Green Book" identifies current obstacles and risks of e-procurement as well as solutions.

Remarkable participatory democracy: The EU Commission asks the parties involved to notify the Commission how in their view the procurement processes could be handled more rapidly and more simply.