Description (short summary):  
eProcurement refers to the use of electronic communications and transaction processing by government institutions and other public sector organisations when buying supplies and services or tendering public works. However, there is much more at stake than the mere changeover from paper based systems to ones using electronic communications for public procurement procedures. eProcurement has the potential to yield important improvements in the efficiency of individual purchases, the overall administration of public procurement and the functioning of the markets for government contracts.

The phasing-in of eProcurement forms part of the ambitious eGovernment agenda which can fundamentally transform the delivery and performance of public administration. The Commission's European Digital Agenda foresees the adoption of a Commission White Paper outlining steps that the Commission will take to establish an inter-connected e-Procurement infrastructure.

The present Green Paper constitutes a first step towards completion of this action and the definition/implementation of an ambitious but realistic programme to harness the potential of ICT for better public procurement across the single market.

The present document moreover constitutes a first step towards a coordinated, ambitious and comprehensive review of the existing EU Public Procurement framework that will inform proposals for the reform of EU legislation. It will be followed by a second Green Paper addressing other issues related to the modernisation of the existing EU public procurement framework.

Number of pages: 23 

Related ePractice news article:
EU: Consultation period for the eProcurement Green Paper ends on 31 January 2011

Nature of documentation: Policy/Strategy papers