Public Procurement

Public procurement plays a significant role in the European economy: it is estimated that it accounts for 16% of the current GDP in the European Union. UEAPME seeks to ensure a better access for SMEs to this important market.

Position Papers and Key Documents

• October 2007: “Which Public Procurement Procedures will be helpful to SMEs and which will be a hindrance?”, an UEAPME intervention at the UNIEP Policy Day, 3 October 2007


• May 2007: “The main difficulties encountered by SMEs in accessing public contracts and how to resolve them”, an UEAPME intervention at the Public Hearing of the IMCO Committee "SME perspectives on Public Procurement", 8 May 2007


• July 2007: UEAPME Comments on the initiative from DG Environment on Green Public Procurement (GPP)


• February 2007: SMEs’ access to public procurement: promoting the exchange of good practices


• November 2006: Facilitating the access of SMEs and crafts to public tenders


• June 2001: Comments on Directive on the co-ordination of procedures for the award of public supply, public services and public work contracts

Press releases

• 29/11/07: Public procurement: EC study backs SME calls for better admin rules


• 08/05/07: Administrative rules a key obstacle to SME-friendlier public tenders


• 22/02/07: Facilitating SMEs’ access to public procurement: focus on best practices


• 05/12/06: Innovation: competition is a pre-condition for “smart” procurement


• 25/10/06: Small businesses’ access to public procurement must be improved at all levels aussi disponible en Français


• 13/09/06: Innovation: “smart” procurement and “lead markets” are steps in the right direction