Governance Issues in the EU's e-Procurement Framework

Government procurement accounts for a considerable proportion of economic activity in the European Union (EU) yet resists integration and harmonization. The European Commission believes that the solution to integrating government procurement into the single market lies in e-procurement. While technology has the potential to improve the efficacy of procurement processes among EU Member States, its use raises governance issues that must be addressed as a co-requisite to adopting the technological solution. This article outlines the Commission's e-procurement policy, develops an analytical structure for assessing the framework and highlights governance issues that need addressing if e-procurement is to deliver on its promise.