BRATISLAVA, February 11, (WEBNOVINY) — The small amendment to the public procurement law that the Cabinet approved on Monday at the initiative of Interior Minister Robert Kalinak is to enable with immediate effect to accelerate the public procurement process. The amendment’s ambition is also to improve the use of EU money, the area in which Slovakia has been lagging behind for long. The Cabinet also passed the proposal for expedited legislative procedure for the small amendment in order that it can get already on the agenda of the ongoing 14th parliamentary session. In case that parliament manages to approve the revision in time it will come into effect as of February 18.
The small amendment unifies the procedure of filing objections that will consist of two parts, with one decision in each of them. It enables bidders to document the fulfillment of conditions for participation in the public procurement by an affidavit a while only a successful bidder will be checked. In case that the contract will not be concluded with the winner, procurers will be able to conclude contracts also with other bidders according to their ranking. The quick amendment to the public procurement law introduces preliminary ex ante control of competition terms and sanctions in the form of a ban on participation in public procurement. These changes are included for now also the grand amendment to the public procurement law that was moved to the second reading by SMER-SD deputies at the ongoing session who will delete them from it later.
“The report in drawing on EU funds, the current economic situation and the tax revenue prognosis shows that we have to try to save each euro that can flow into the gross domestic product and help increase its turnover and create new jobs,” Kalinak explained the need to approve the small amendment. According to him, Slovakia has yet to draw on EU funds from 2011, that must be completed by the end of this year.
SITA