Ministry of Finance of Estonia Conference in Vilnius 9 December 2004 “Recent Development and Current Challenges in the field of Public Procurement in Europe”

Ministry of Finance of Estonia

Conference in Vilnius 9 December 2004Conference in Vilnius 9 December 2004

““Recent Development and Current Challenges in the Recent Development and Current Challenges in the field of Public Procurement in Europe”field of Public Procurement in Europe”

Expert view from EstoniaAime Võsu

Ministry of Finance


Conference in Vilnius 9 December 2004 Conference in Vilnius 9 December 2004 “Recent Development and Current Challenges in the “Recent Development and Current Challenges in the

field of Public Procurement in Europe”field of Public Procurement in Europe”

Background

Responsibilities:- Ministry of Finance: PP policy, drafting PP

law;- Public Procurement Office: supervision of

the PPA, protests and complaints review, maintaining of PP register.

- Amendments to bring PPA into compliance with EC PP directives and standard forms in force since 1 January 2004




ES03/IB/TWP/FIN/13 (Austria, Estonia)

Assistance to the Ministry of Finance of Estonia for improving administrative capacity in the field of public procurement (start April 2004, end December 2004

Twinning project EE02-IB-SPP01 “Completing the

Preparations for the Management of EU Structural Funds in Estonia”




Objectives of the program:• to transpose the principles of new PP directives

into Estonian law;• training of contracting authorities to achieve

better understanding in PP directives principles;• raising of administrative capacity on all levels.




Output 1 – assistance to draft a new Public Procurement Act

- opportunity to use expertise of judges of PPO on drafted PPA, to learn best practise of partner;

- different legal environment of the beneficiary and partner (laws, organisation of PP system, PP register);

- uncertainty concerning new procedures provided by new PP directives.




Output 2 – training concerning “old” EC public procurement directives

(4 two days regional seminars for contracting authorities)

- well prepared seminar materials;- experience of experts as lecturers on

different level;- difficulties with translation;- connecting with national law necessary

during seminar.




Output 3 – assistance to prepare Guidelines for contracting authorities

- advice on compiling of national guidelines

complicated (mainly explaining principles from the point of view of ECJ jurisdiction);

- difficulties of structural funds implementing units connected with starting to follow national PP rules;

- translation and time restriction problems.




Output 4 – raising of administrative capacity

- good co-operation between beneficiary and Austrian partner;

- opportunity to learn best practice of partner and other Member States (UK, Sweden);

- seminars for the officials of MoF and PPO.




Organisational issues, future steps

- problems with planning of expert visits – insufficient flexibility;

- heavy worksload of experts during expert visits – flat rate not used properly;

- further training of contracting authorities and entities on all levels.

Documents

Ministry of Finance of Estonia Conference in Vilnius 9 December 2004 “Recent Development and Current Challenges in the field of Public Procurement in Europe”