Public procurement. ... In addition to the principles enshrined in the Treaty, a number of directives have been adopted. These harmonize the rules governing the award of contracts by requiring proper advertising and transparency, establishing an order of preference between award procedures, laying down common rules on technical specifications and fixing criteria for selecting candidates and awarding contracts.
In urgent cases or where the nature, small scale or particular characteristics of certain works or supplies so warrant, the Commission or the recipient may, by agreement with the Commission stating the reasons therefor, exceptionally authorize;
- the award of contracts after open invitations to tender, confined to a specific geographical area,
- the award of contracts after restricted invitations to tender,
- the conclusions of contracts by private treaty,
- the performance of contracts through public works departments.
