European Commission, BRUSSELS: The European Commission has outlined its proposals for future initiatives to improve cross-border competition in defence procurement.
In 2006, the Commission will adopt an 'Interpretative Communication' clarifying when Member States can derogate from EU law requiring competitive procurement with regard to supplies, works and services intended for specifically military purposes and crucial to essential security interests. In parallel, preliminary work will begin towards a possible Directive that would coordinate procedures for defence procurement in cases where the derogation under Article 296 EC is not applicable or a Member State chooses not to take advantage of it.
These initiatives are based on the results of the consultation launched in September 2004 by the Green Paper on how to open defence public procurement to greater transparency and efficiency, compatible with the specific features of this sector. They follow the recent supportive opinion issued by the European Parliament (see Wuermeling report).
Internal Market and Services Commissioner Charlie McCreevy said: “The response to the consultation is clear . Action to clarify and improve EU law on defence procurement is imperative. We must now put our foot on the gas . The future of Europe
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