EIC Blue Book on Sustainable Procurement

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Year of Publication: 2004
ISBN: 3-9808257-6-0
Paperback cover; A4; 30 pages

Content

Throughout the 20th century, infrastructure facilities and services in the transport, energy, water and sewerage sectors provided by European international contractors have made significant contributions to the economic and social development of more than 150 countries in all continents.  They have not only contributed to employment, income and taxation in the host countries, but generally enhanced the European image abroad. Through constant co-operation with local partners, suppliers and subcontractors, the transfer of technology and know-how and the training of local people, these companies have helped to create a climate for cross-cultural understanding as well as a potential for economic growth and thus made a contribution to what is nowadays labelled “sustainable development”. It is fair to say that internationalisation and globalisation have a long tradition in the European construction industry and, at the beginning of the 21st century, European international contractors, despite difficulties within the global business environment, are still committed to this tradition.

For sustainable development to be achieved, “sustainable procurement” is indispensable in both theory and practice. The procurement process supervised by MDBs should inspire the participating tenderers to make optimal use of their experience, technological and financial capabilities and creativity to provide solutions which optimises the balance between technical and financial considerations. Against this background, we have prepared our “EIC Blue Book on Sustainable Procurement” which examines the current procurement philosophy and practice of MDBs and evaluates this philosophy and practice against the fundamental considerations that are generally guiding their procurement transactions:

  1. The need for economy and efficiency in the implementation of the project, including the procurement of goods and works involved;
  2. The interest in giving all eligible bidders the same information and equal opportunity to compete in providing goods and works financed by the MDB;
  3. The interest in encouraging the development of domestic contracting and manufacturing industries in the borrowing country; and
  4. The importance of transparency in the procurement process.