Global public procurement will fit local needs

Significance

In many countries, the increasing willingness of governments to outsource the provision of public services has created new interfaces between the state and the private sector and new challenges for holding service providers to account. In developing countries, these trends also raise deeper concerns about sovereignty and legitimacy.

Impacts

• Maximum transparency will be needed about how contracts are awarded and executed to avoid corruption risks.
• The funds available to private companies will allow them to buy in legal expertise to ensure more favourable contract terms.
• EU member countries need to reform national law by March 2016 to align with the new procurement directive.