Rapporteur Daniel Caspary’s report on the international procurement instrument got 36 votes in favor, no votes against and 6 abstentions, the chair of the Parliament’s trade committee Bernd Lange said today. “It’s a really broad majority,” he said, “and due to my opinion we could start trilogue negotiations with the French Presidency quite soon.”
The aim of the international procurement instrument is to allow Brussels to act when countries close their markets to EU companies hunting lucrative public procurement contracts in sectors ranging from utilities to railways. Trade MEPs want to close loopholes in the proposal, making sure the procurement instrument has a uniform application in all EU countries. The file now goes to the plenary, which is expected to vote on it at its January meeting in Strasbourg, Caspary said Monday. France, which will take over the rotating Council Presidency in January, has already indicated it wants a deal on the procurement instrument during its presidency.