Roundtable on Procurement Rules for Public Services contracts
Tue 18/11/2008 10:00 to 17:00
EFCA calls upon E.C. officials to improve external aid procedures
EuropeAid Director General Koos Richelle welcomed EFCA’s invitation to a high-level dialogue on challenges for development cooperation reform in the 21st century.
He reaffirmed the European Commission’s commitment to deliver aid in ways that are consistent with its emphasis on aid effectiveness and its strategic vision for strengthening country ownership.
In his presentation at the EFCA roundtable on ’EC external Actions – service contracts procurement’, Koos Richelle emphasised the importance of technical cooperation to move forward the EU development agenda. He welcomed the industry’s pushes for changes, but added that financial management and procurement systems in the end need to comply with all European Community’s budgetary principles.
EFCA President Panos Panagopoulos and Robert Couturier, Chairman of the Partnership for Development Committee put forward proposals that will significantly improve the delivery of technical assistance and that can be immediately achieved without changes of rules.
The debate was concluded with a statement from EFCA's President on the need for simplification and increased flexibility of procedures and from moderator Jules Muis, former World Bank Vice-President, who emphasised the need for ongoing constructive dialogue between Commission and trade organisations such as EFCA to ensure optimal efficiency and effectiveness in procurement procedures.
Location: Stanhope Hotel, Rue du Commerce 9 , Brussels