Last night, European Parliament negotiators concluded a political agreement with EU member states on international procurement rules. The international procurement instrument (IPI) introduces measures limiting access to open EU public procurement tenders for non-EU companies from countries that do not offer similar access to EU companies. Its ultimate goal is to encourage the opening up of protected markets to EU economic operators, goods and services. 

The S&D Group ensured that the EU can take action to tackle discrimination against EU companies abroad and that bidders from the least developed countries are not subject to IPI measures.

Inmaculada Rodríguez-Piñero, MEP and S&D negotiator, said:

“Ten years after the Commission published its first proposal, we have finally achieved a breakthrough in the negotiations. With the new international procurement instrument we will have a more equal playing field for EU companies. As a result we will see more and better jobs in the EU.

“I am proud that our group managed to ensure there will be a uniform application of the regulation to avoid potential loopholes and increase the transparency of the investigations. We also included social, labour and environmental obligations. The EU will be empowered to take more decisive action against discrimination against European companies abroad, while protecting bidders from least developed countries.”