In contrast to the EU’s policy favouring greater openness, many third countries are reluctant to (further) open their procurement markets to international competition. Whereas EUR 312 billion of EU public procurement is open to bidders from member countries of the WTO agreement on procurement, the value of US procurement offered to foreign bidders is just EUR 34 billion and EUR 22 billion for Japan. Certain trading partners have maintained or introduced protectionist measures hitting, among others, EU companies. This clearly limits business opportunities for EU companies in these markets.
Taking this into account, the European Commission opened the public consultation on the access of third countries to the EU's public procurement market. The consultation is open until 2 August 2011 and is targeted towards all stakeholders in public procurement. Contributions are particularly sought from business which sell to public authorities and utilities, trade associations representing businesses, contracting authorities (including utilities) or associations representing contracting authorities, Government institution/regulatory authority, trade unions and NGOs.
You can find out more about the consultations here:
http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/publicprocurement/modernising_rules/consultations/index_en.htm
source: http://www.interact-eu.net