Debate – New public procurement law to prevent corruption

Public procurement should be attractive for beneficiaries, including efficient and simple procedures, not additional burden in operations, heard the first public debate on the new draft-law on public procurement on Wednesday.

Public Procurement Bureau director Gjorgji Georgievski said the new law should provide protection from corruption and establish responsibility. A project implemented in cooperation with the World Bank focuses on the inclusion of red flags in the e-public procurement system, which would indicate corruption.

The law also stipulates the introduction of an e-market of small public procurement – an e-catalogue – which would enable their swift and efficient settlement.

Finance Minister Dragan Tevdovski said the objective of the new law is to enhance transparency and control of procedures, but also to simplify  them.

“The new law gives the opportunity to value quality besides price, thus taking into consideration European regulations and practice. Depending on the procurement item, the contracting body can determine if it will use the lowest price, its profitability based on the lifespan, or the best balance between price and quality,” explained Tevdovski.

Support for Improvement in Governance and Management (SIGMA), a joint initiative of the OECD and the European Union with the objective of strengthening the foundations for improved public governance, said the Macedonian public procurement system complies with EU’s main obligations, but is still overly-bureaucratic, focused on formalities and often neglects efficiency.

“The new law is set to reduce bureaucratic obligations, having a bigger focus on efficiency and effectiveness,” said SIGMA representative Marian Lemke.

Public debates on the law are to take place in Stip and Struga in the coming period. The Parliament is scheduled to adopt the law in October, and its implementation is slated for January 2019.