GPP Issue no. 68 February 2017 News Alert The Basque Government has published its “Green Public Procurement Programme of the Basque Country 2020”. Its second GPP Programme expands the scope of the targets from central government to the whole public sector in the region, promotes actions to establish GPP as a standard practice and ensure effective engagement with the market. The voluntary Programme sets two types of objectives to be achieved by all public administrations: 1. Process objectives, for the integration of GPP in authorities’ procedures and procurement tools 2. Results objectives, based on actual greening of public tenders for more than 20 priority groups The Programme is organised in five strategic areas: tools and resources for GPP implementation; integration in procurement processes, procedures and tools; awareness raising and capacity building; coordination with the market; and communication, dissemination and networking. A first meeting has already been held with the three Basque regions and capitals to encourage commitment and define collaborative work strategies. The inter- agency committee is coordinated by Ihobe, who support the Basque Government in developing its GPP and wider sustainability policies. The programme is available in English, Spanish, and Basque. Basque Government adopts its new GPP Programme Could you tell us about the PRO-LITE project and some of its achievements? The PRO-LITE project was co-funded by the European Commission and coordinated by TfL, starting in January 2013. The project has successfully demonstrated how public sector organisations across Europe can overcome public procurement and other barriers to deliver innovative and cost-effective technologies for their organisations. The project focused primarily on purchasing innovative lighting technologies which offer improved social, environmental and economic benefits; however the methodology is now being applied to purchase a range of technologies for TfL. Four PRO-LITE partners based across three European Member States (namely, the United Kingdom, Italy and Germany) aimed to purchase innovative lighting solutions (or put in place frameworks contracts for lighting) for a range of applications. The process was started after we jointly published a Market Sounding Prospectus to present our common requirements to the lighting market, and our plans to undertake procurement actions. To view the interview in full, click here. Lighting up London’s underground transport network using the PRO- LITE approach An updated Technical Report has been made available by the Joint Research Centre with new criteria proposals. Criteria for food, catering services and vending machines have been considered. Stakeholders are invited to comment the report via the online platform BATIS (registration is required). The deadline for submitting comments is 24 March 2017. More information… Zoom in on… Open stakeholders’ consultation on EU GPP criteria for food and catering services Zoom in on… Revision of the Clean Vehicles Directive open for consultation The European Commission is carrying out a public consultation as part of an Impact Assessment process for a possible revision of the Directive 2009/33/EC. The Directive aims to better support achieving EU policy objectives on climate change and air pollution and to stimulate the market for clean vehicles. All citizens and organisations, particularly public authorities, are welcome to participate and submit an online questionnaire before 24 March 2017. More information… Dr. Leon Smith is Project Director for the Procurement of Lighting Innovation and Technology in Europe (PRO-LITE) project, and led Transport for London’s (TfL) innovative procurement of lighting services for the London Underground. TfL is a local government body responsible for the transport services across Greater London, United Kingdom. Image: Pixabay Image: Basque Government, Mikel Arrazola Image: Pixabay