Procurement rule changes could open up markets

Changes finally agreed to EU public procurement rules could open up markets worth €300bn to Irish companies including SMEs and they will also have easier access to state aid as a result of changes to EU rules.

Designed to boost competition and ensure best value for money for governments and public authorities looking for goods and services, the new rules fail, however, to include the water sector.

Taxpayer-funded contracts from public authorities account for close to one-fifth of each country’s GDP but the rules have militated against smaller companies competing for them up to now.