The new Guide, produced by the European Commission, is a very concrete tool to help public authorities to buy goods and services in a socially responsible way in line with EU rules. It also highlights the contribution public procurement can make to stimulate greater social inclusion. The Guide explains the wide range of possibilities offered by the existing EU public procurement rules to take social aspects on board in the various stages of the procurement process. Those clarifications will allow public purchasers to integrate with greater confidence social considerations in public procurement, while ensuring equal access to all European interested bidders and guaranteeing an efficient use of public money. The exercise is in line with the Europe 2020 Strategy and the EU goals for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Read more

Source: European Commission