EU wants access to public contracts

The European Union wants to encourage China to open up public procurement by setting new standards for the European market. Reciprocity and a level playing field must be achieved, several MEPs stressed on Wednesday during the presentation of the report on the „International Procurement Instrument“ (IPI) in the Committee on International Trade. While the „door is wide open“ for companies from third countries to bid for public contracts within the EU, some trading partners do not want to open their doors at all, criticized Daniel Caspary, the CDU MEP in charge of drafting the EU Parliament’s position on IPI. There must be a way to exert greater pressure „where we are not getting our way“, Caspary said.