Karen, a search on Google found the following on the FEACO site. More
details are apparently available from FEACO - although the full report
doesn't seem to be on their site, contrary to the staement in the last line
of the summary.
Hope this helps.
Eric
FEACO/EFCA Conference on Consultancy & the European Commission -
The conference of 23 April 1998 which feaco organised in co-operation with
EFCA, the European Federation of Engineering Consultancy Associations in
Brussels, on Consultancy and the European Commission was an enormous
success. Over 250 people from consultancies, National Representation Offices
and the European Commission attended. The conference came at a very timely
moment as the Commission is currently reviewing its policy on procurement
and starting a phase of internal restructuring and rationalisation of the
use of its human resources, as well as establishing the new Common Service
for administration of all aid and technical assistance activities in
developing countries.
The first speaker, Mr Promelle, Secretary of the ACPC, the Advisory
Committee on Procurement and Contracts for the European Commission, normally
referred to by its French abbreviation, the CCAM, explained the essential,
but rather unknown and often misunderstood role of this internal Commission
body. The ACPC sees to it that no risks are taken with the expenditure of
public money or the application of the procurement rules by the Commission.
It gives advice on all contracts by the Commission surpassing 42 000 ECU.
Since 1993 the total value of the dossiers reviewed by ACPC has grown from
788 million ECU in 1993 to 2.2 billion ECU in 1997. The ACPC's key
perspectives for the future are improvement in the quality of procurement
procedures applied by the Commission though more harmonisation, training for
officials, use of help desks and shorter time limits.
The second speaker, Mr Weber, Director of Finance and Resources of
Directorate General IB, External Relations, expanded on the public
procurement process and the selection of consultants in the area of external
relations. He gave his view on the aspects he considers most important in
procurement: the terms of reference, pre-qualification, effective
competition and transparency, fee level and ethics, and the changes that are
required in those fields. He is of the opinion that the procurement rules as
applied by the Commission should be as uniform and transparent as possible.
Transparency should lead to more effective competition. The market, not the
Commission should determine the fee levels
Following a discussion, initiated by panel member Mr Hack of the
Bundesvereinigung Consultingwirtschaft it was concluded that over the last
24 months major improvements had taken place, that the open discussion on
the subject should continue and that the Commission's willingness to take
suggestions on board was welcomed.
Mrs Summa, Head of the Evaluation Unit in Directorate General XIX (Budgets)
presented another important aspect of the Commission's reorganisation: the
improvement of quality evaluations. This decision is laid down in the
Commission Communication on Evaluation of May 1996 which states that the
evaluation of its expenditure programme should be more systematic, timely
and rigorous. The details of this decision have been set out in the
Commission's SEM 2000 report for sound and efficient management, which
introduces a systematic programme evaluation across Community programmes and
initiatives, and the MAP 2000 report on Modernisation of Administration and
Personnel Policies which goes towards a more decentralised model of
management. Mrs Summa stressed that evaluation was a special skill and
called on consulting firms to provide trained and experienced evaluators.
In the afternoon Mr Pratley, Deputy Director General of DG XX responsible
for financial control, expanded on the issue of administrative matters.
Discussed were justification of expenditure, fixed price contracts, fee rate
guidelines, contract extensions and late payment. Mr Pratley invited the
consultant to provide new material on the basis of which the dialogue could
be continued. He understood and partly accepted the frustration expressed by
consultants.
The final speaker, Mr Hanna of Directorate General VIII, responsible for
Development Aid, went into the details of the establishment of a Common
Service for all sections of the Commission involved in external relation
programmes and aid management. This project, referred to as SCOOP, is also a
direct result of the SEM 2000, MAP 2000 and Agenda 2000 initiatives. It is
currently regarded as a "pilot project" for internal restructuring and
rationalisation of the Commission. Mr Hanna went into the details of the
consequences this may have for the staff of the services involved and the
consultants.
In all the conference was revealing for all who attended, consultants as
well as Commission representatives. It was a two-way event, another step in
an open dialogue which should lead to a better understanding of each other's
pre-occupations regarding these issues and which will hopefully lead to a
more structured involvement of consultants in the discussions about the
ongoing reforms.
A more detailed report of the presentations can be obtained from the FEACO
Secretariat and the FEACO website: http://www.feaco.org
---
Eric Davies
European Information Services
PO Box 28
Mold
CH7 6FE
United Kingdom
Tel +44 (0) 1352 753 139
Fax: +44 (0) 1352 757 655
[log in to unmask]
www.euro.info.btinternet.co.uk/
Eric Davies edits 'European Information' - the journal of the European
Information Association - and has developed a number of websites, including
www.eia.org.uk and www.leeds.ac.uk/law/law.html
----- Original Message -----
From: OSTERLOH, Karen <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 17 November 2000 11:25
Subject: Procurement query
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if you need assistance.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
Can anyone help please? I am trying to find background information, its
function etc, on CCAM (commission consultative des achats et des marchés) as
mentioned below. From Celex searches I think this translates to Advisory
Committee on Procurements and Contracts (ACPC-JRC). Can anyone suggest
where to look - I've tried calling the Commission but the relevant officials
are not answering their phones!
Thanks
Réforme: la Commission supprime l'avis préalable pour les marchés inférieurs
à 500.000 euros
Brussels, 15 November 2000
La Commission européenne a décidé de relever de 46.000 euros à 500.000
euros le seuil de saisine de la CCAM (commission consultative des achats et
des marchés) (Action n° 89 du Livre blanc sur la Réforme). Le nombre de d
ossiers traités par la CCAM devrait être réduit des deux tiers passant de
750 en 1999 à 250 environ. La réforme adoptée aujourd'hui s'inscrit dans le
cadre de la responsabilisation des ordonnateurs et de la rationalisation de
s contrôles internes. Il s'agit d'une mesure temporaire car le Livre blanc
sur la Réforme (action 65) prévoit la suppression pure et simple de l'avis
préalable de la CCAM. Cette suppression ne sera définitive qu'après l'adopt
ion par le Conseil et le Parlement du projet de refonte du Règlement
financier que la Commission a proposée le 26 juillet dernier.
Midday Express News from the Spokesman's daily briefing
Website: ( http://http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/midday.htm )
Karen Osterloh
EU Information Officer
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
65 Fleet Street London EC4Y 1HS
Tel +44 20 7716 4967
Fax +44 20 7832 7445
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