A practical guide for managers: Identifying conflicts of interests in public procurement procedures for structural actions

Conflicts of interests in public procurement were identified as one subject of interest to Member States. A workshop involving experts from 10 different Member States pointed to the need for a guide to identifying conflicts of interests and mitigating the risks of such situations.

‘Identifying conflicts of interests in public procurement procedures for structural actions. A practical guide for managers’ is the result of that common work. It provides recommendations for managers and officials in the managing and contracting authorities on identifying and handling conflicts of interests with regard to public procurement financed by the EU budget under structural actions and cohesion policy programmes. It covers all types of public procurement, irrespective of the amount involved.

It is not binding on Member States but aims to provide a common approach to handling conflicts of interests for the managing and contracting authorities, without prejudice to national legislation.

This guide was drafted under a new collaborative working procedure involving experts from the Member States, OLAF and Commission DGs in charge of structural actions. The objective is to improve the quality of output from the ad hoc COCOLAF meetings by drafting practical documentation that the Member States and the Commission can use as benchmarks, administrative tools, guidance, and support to strengthen their anti-fraud measures/strategies.

Download the guide here.