Public procurement reform in the EU: start of a new era?

• Published in: IMP journal 2017-01, Vol.11 (3), p.431-451
• Main Authors: Torvatn, Tim, de Boer, Luitzen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Competition; Education; EU directives; Government purchasing; Health services; Literature reviews; Public services; Purchasing; Researchers; Social responsibility; Suppliers; Waivers
• ISSN: 2059-1403; 0809-7259; 2059-1403
• DOI: 10.1108/IMP-09-2015-0056

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the reform of public purchasing directives initiated by the European Union (EU) and discuss them in light of the criticism against existing public purchasing directives.Design/methodology/approachA literature review of empirical articles is critical to existing public purchasing directives to summarize the main directions and categories of their criticism, and a thorough reading of the proposed reform of the public purchasing directives is carried out to see if the changes will answer some or all of the criticism directed toward the public purchasing directives.FindingsThe reforms seem to be a step in the right direction, particularly with respect to public organizations possibility to support innovation and new product and service development, but little change in the possibilities for development of strategic, long-term relationships.Research limitations/implicationsThe reform has just been introduced, and so the analysis of the possible effects of the reform is not based on empirical data (since such data do not exist yet), but mostly on the authors experience in the field and through a comparison with selected literature.Originality/valueAn early assessment of the possible effects of the reform regarding public procurement directives in the EU area is introduced.