Public procurement

Practitioners’ Seminar: European Public Procurement Rules, Policy and Practice

This comprehensive seminar will provide you with an understanding of the principles and procedures of European public procurement policy, focusing on the Public Procurement Directives and relevant case law. You will be guided through the Public Procurement Directive 2014/24/EU and the Utilities Directive 2014/25/EU. During the seminar you will receive insights into the application of professional procurement practices.

About this course

This comprehensive seminar will provide you with an understanding of the principles and procedures of European public procurement policy, focusing on the Public Procurement Directives and relevant case law. You will be guided through the Public Procurement Directive 2014/24/EU and the Utilities Directive 2014/25/EU. These directives will be demystified, empowering participants with actionable insights into their application within professional procurement practices.

Embark on a comprehensive four-day journey, commencing with an ‘introductory’ session on the first day. The morning will be dedicated to foundational aspects, followed by an afternoon session titled ‘Public Procurement Rules and Practice in the EU’, where practical examples from an experienced practitioner will be shared. Even if you possess a strong foundation, the introductory day remains pertinent for a concise review and an opportunity to gain insights from real-world cases in European Public Procurement.

These foundational sessions serve as the cornerstone for a more in-depth exploration, setting the stage for the subsequent three-day ‘Practitioners’ segment. This focused segment offers an immersive experience, delving into practical applications and advanced nuances of European Public Procurement. Participants will gain a concentrated understanding of advanced practices, enhancing their expertise in this domain.

This seminar is the mandatory building block for obtaining EIPA’s European Certification for public procurement professionals. See more information here.

What will you learn:

Throughout the four-day seminar, you should gain a multifaceted comprehension of crucial aspects within European Public Procurement. By the conclusion of the seminar, you should expect to:

  • Cultivate a robust understanding of the intricate European rules and fundamental principles governing public procurement, bolstered by case law illustrations
  • Navigate the procurement cycle with confidence, gaining a comprehensive awareness of its diverse phases and practical implications in real-world scenarios
  • Acquire invaluable insights into the realm of professional procurement practices, unveiling strategies and methodologies to optimise processes and outcomes
  • Engage in a stimulating discussion alongside esteemed professionals boasting diverse backgrounds, fostering a rich understanding of varied approaches and challenges inherent in the realm of public procurement

Course methodology:

Immerse yourself in a dynamic learning experience merging introductory insights with advanced perspectives, featuring engaging exercises and case studies. To maximise your learning, we recommend participants familiarise themselves with Directive 2014/24/EU prior to the commencement of the course, enhancing their grasp of the content and enabling more interactive discussions and practical applications during sessions.

Following the seminar, you will receive comprehensive slides along with supplementary learning materials, and a wealth of online resources that the experts used throughout the course. These assets are tailored to facilitate the application of your freshly acquired knowledge and skills directly to your professional endeavours.

At the end of the seminar you will receive a certificate of attendance. You will have access to the slides as well as additional learning material for a duration of six months after the course.

Please click here for the exam opportunity at the end of this course.

This seminar is intended for officials from national, sub-national and local authorities and other public bodies from the EU Member States, candidate countries and European bodies and organisations, who wish to familiarise themselves with European public procurement rules, policy and practice, as well as for other interested persons working in this field, for example representatives from industry and academia.

Project number: 2530801

Course venue
European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA)
O.L. Vrouweplein 22
6211 HE, Maastricht
the Netherlands

Project Management Officer
Ms Belinda Vetter
Tel: +31 43 3296382
b.vetter@eipa.eu

Fee
The fee includes documentation, refreshments, lunches and a dinner. Accommodation and travel costs are at the expense of the participants or their administration.

Discounts
EIPA member fee
EIPA offers a discount to all civil servants working for one of EIPA’s supporting countries, and civil servants working for an EU institution, body or agency.

Who are the supporting countries?
Civil servants coming from the following EIPA supporting countries are entitled to get the reduced fee: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden.

For all other participants, the regular fee applies.

Early bird discount
The early bird discount is not cumulative with other discounts or promo codes, except for the EIPA member fee.

Loyalty coupon
As a token of appreciation we offer all our participants a loyalty coupon for one of our future courses. The offer can be shared with colleagues and relevant networks. The coupon will expire one year after its release. This discount is not cumulative with other discounts, except for the EIPA member fee.

Meals
Dietary preferences can be indicated on the registration form.

Hotel reservations
EIPA has special price arrangements with a number of hotels. The hotels are within walking distance from EIPA. If you wish to take advantage of this option, please click on the hotel name to book directly using the link. Payment is to be made directly and personally to the hotel upon checking out.

Confirmation
Confirmation of registration will be forwarded to participants on receipt of the completed online registration form.

Payment
Prior payment is a condition for participation.

Cancellation policy
For administrative reasons you will be charged €150 for cancellations received within 15 days before the activity begins. There is no charge for qualified substitute participants.

EIPA reserves the right to cancel the activity up to 2 weeks before the starting date. In that case, registration fees received will be fully reimbursed. EIPA accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred (travel, accommodation, etc.).

A few days before the start of the course you will receive the log-in details for accessing the course materials. You can log in here.

Download the brochure

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Our experts

Gracia Vara Arribas
Project leader

Gracia Vara Arribas

EU Law and Public Procurement, EU Governance, Head of the European CAF Resource Centre

Michael Burnett

Public Sector Audit Expert, Member of Solihull Borough Council Audit Committee

Programme


Introductory Seminar: European Public Procurement foundations
09.15Welcome; objectives of the seminar
Gracia Vara Arribas, Expert, European Policies, EIPA, Maastricht (NL)
09.30European public procurement – Principles and legal basis
Gracia Vara Arribas
10.45Coffee break
11.15European public procurement and its strategic design
Gracia Vara Arribas
12.45Lunch at a local restaurant
14.00Public procurement procedures and practices
Bonnie Epema, Lawyer, The Drone BV, Leur (NL)
15.30Coffee break
16.00Public procurement procedures and practices (continued) and practical exercise
Bonnie Epema
17.30End of the day
Practitioners’ Seminar: European Public Procurement Rules, Policy and Practice
09.15Welcome; objectives of the seminar
Gracia Vara Arribas
09.45The procurement directive: Directive 2014/24/EU Preparation phase
Gracia Vara Arribas
11.00Coffee break
11.30The procurement directive: Directive 2014/24/EU : Tendering phase
Gracia Vara Arribas
12.45Lunch at EIPA’s restaurant
14.15The procurement directive: Directive 2014/24/EU : The selection and award phases
Dr Peter Braun, Partner, Dentons Law Firm, Frankfurt (DE)
15.30The procurement directive: Directive 2014/24/EU : The execution phase
Dr Peter Braun
16.00Landmark case law of the Court of Justice of the EU in procurement
Dr Peter Braun, Partner
17.15Guided tour of Maastricht
20.00Dinner at a local restaurant
09.15Recent case law of the Court of Justice of the EU in procurement
Dr Peter Braun
11.00Coffee break
11.30The directive on the award of concessions: Directive 2014/23/EU
Michael Burnett, External Expert, European Public Procurement, EIPA, Former member, European Commission Stakeholder Expert Group on Public Procurement
13.00Lunch at EIPA’s restaurant
14.15The utilities directive: Directive 2014/25/EU
Nicolas Pourbaix, Associate General Counsel, Executive Director, Amgen, Lisbon (PT)
15.45Coffee break
16.00Public Procurement and State Aid – practice and cases
Dr Peter Braun
17.30End of the day
09.00Environmental provisions in the procurement directives
Martin Unfried, Expert, ITEM Institute, Faculty of Law, Maastricht University, Maastricht (NL)
10.30Coffee break
11.00Division into groups:
Group 1 – those participating in the exam
Examination
Group 2 – those not participating in the exam
Exercises and Q&A session
Martin Unfried and Gracia Vara
13.15End of the seminar

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Practitioners’ Seminar: European Public Procurement Rules, Policy and Practice

18 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2025
Maastricht (NL)
Register before: 3 Feb 2025

Simultaneous interpretation can be offered. Contact the programme organizer for more information and conditions.

 2.255 per attendee
 2.030 for EIPA members
Early bird register before: 24 Dec 2024

Discount policy

EIPA offers a discount to all civil servants working for one of EIPA’s supporting countries, and civil servants working for an EU institution, body or agency.

Who are the supporting countries?

Civil servants coming from the following EIPA supporting countries are entitled to get the reduced fee: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden.

For all other participants, the regular fee applies.

Early bird discount

For a limited number of training courses, EIPA offers an early bird discount.

For more information please contact us.

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Register before: 3 Feb 2025