Green light of the European Parliament to the new directive on concession contracts



Yesterday the European Parliament has approved of the new norms EU in matter of contracts publics and concessions. In concession contract topic, for the first time therefore norms common in the EU are established in order to promote a loyal competition and to guarantee the best relationship quality-I mark, introducing new criteria of award that mainly place the accent on environmental considerations, social aspects and innovation.

"The new norms in concession contract matter - it has emphasized europarlamentare French Philippe Juvin (PPE), reporter for concession contracts - represent an important sign in favour of a strengthening of the home market. They create a healthy economic atmosphere, from which all the actors, comprised the public authorities, the economic operators and, in the final analysis the citizens of the EU, will be able to draw benefit. Now, the rules of the game will be returned notes to all".

Between the innovations introduced from the directive, only of contest" standard, based on the autocertificazione is simplified the procedure of contest thanks to a "European document. Moreover only the winner will have to supply the documentation original.

Feport, the federation of the European harbour terminalisti, has followed with particular interest the debate to the Parliament EU as the new norms is of particular importance for the terminals operator, than in many European ports they operate within concession contracts. According to Feport, however, currently it is difficult to estimate the impact of the new directive, as it must before be implemented in the national orderings. The federation has remembered to have in the past had some problems with the directive on the concessions, in particular about the possible lack of safety of the investments deriving from the uncertainty on the delay of contracts. Feport in fact has rimarcato that the terminalisti carry out huge investments in the ports, for example for the purchase of earth crane and vehicles, and therefore safety of the investments is considered by many operators as essential thing for the development of the ports.

Feport has evidenced moreover that the European Parliament has abstained from the final ballot in order to allow ulterior negotiations with the Council and the Commission of the EU with the aim to reach an agreement in first reading. The Council - the federation has remembered - is carrying to term the arguments on the issue and is therefore possible that there is agreement between the Council and the Parliament in the next weeks, after which the Member States will begin the transposition of the directive in the national right.