Orientation Context and general remarks … About the project, the survey, the case studies

Sustainable Public Procurement in EU Member States: Case Studies & SynthesisPresentation given at the 16th Meeting of the EU High-Level Group on CSRBrussels, 16 October 2007Reinhard SteurerGerald BergerRIMAS - Research Institute for Managing SustainabilityVienna University of Economics and Business Administrationwww.sustainability.euwww.sustainability.eu/csr-policies

Orientation • Context and general remarks …About the project, the survey, the case studies • Some survey results commemorated • Types of instruments etc. • The three case studiesThe „legal framework“ on SPP in France • The „strategic framework“ on SPP in the UK • Guidelines on SPP/GPP in Austria • ConclusionsSynthesis of survey & case study results

Orientation • Context and general remarks …About the project, the survey, the case studies • Some survey results commemorated • Types of instruments etc. • The three case studies The „legal framework“ on SPP in France • The „strategic framework“ on SPP in the UK • Guidelines on SPP/GPP in Austria • ConclusionsSynthesis of survey & case study results

Context • The project:„Analysis of national policies on CSR, in support of a structured exchange of information on national CSR policies and initiatives“ is commissioned by DG Employment (Tender No VT/2005/063; www.sustainability.eu/csr-policies) • The survey results: • Presented at CSR HLG Meeting on 7 May 2007 • Final report on SPP in Europe summarises survey results (part I), case studies (part II) and synthesis (part III) • The case studies & synthesis: • Describe selected policy approaches in more detail • Highlight relevant success factors and challenges/obstacles • Facilitate an in-depth discussion of different approaches

General remarks on the case studies • Cases selected based on survey, in cooperation with DG Employment (most relevant instruments in countries that make extensive use) • Cases considered … …but not selected also briefly described in final report • EKU Tool in Sweden (hybrid instrument: internet platform) • NAP on SPP in the Netherlands • Informational instruments in Denmark, in particular the websites www.ski.dk (GPP) and http://www.udbudsportalen.dk/socialaftaler (the “Danish Public Procurement Portal on Social Clauses”) • Sources of information: • Documents (incl. websites) on the initiatives • 2 interviews per case (from ministries and procuring agency) • Interview partners and questions: Annex IV of final report

Countries covered in the survey • Green: survey • Orange: other studies • Grey: not covered

Overview of 103 SPP initiatives found in the survey Educational activities, e.g. conferences, seminars, trainings; 3.9% Platforms/centres/institutions; 5.8% Government-sponsored guidelines; 13.6% Action plans/programmes/strategies for CSR; 27.2% Information resources, e.g. websites, studies, reports, etc.; 11.7% Information/awareness raising campaigns; 1.9% Circulars; 4.9% Networks/partnerships/agreements; 1.0% Decrees, resolutions; 4.9% Laws; 25.2%

Overview of SPP initiatives Educational activities, e.g. conferences, seminars, trainings; 3.9% Platforms/centres/institutions; 5.8% Government-sponsored guidelines; 13.6% Action plans/programmes/strategies for CSR; 27.2% Information resources, e.g. websites, studies, reports, etc.; 11.7% Information/awareness raising campaigns; 1.9% Economic/financial instruments are missing, but… Circulars; 4.9% Networks/partnerships/agreements; 1.0% Decrees, resolutions; 4.9% Laws; 25.2%

Overview of SPP initiatives Educational activities, e.g. conferences, seminars, trainings; 3.9% Platforms/centres/institutions; 5.8% Government-sponsored guidelines; 13.6% Action plans/programmes/strategies for CSR; 27.2% Information resources, e.g. websites, studies, reports, etc.; 11.7% Information/awareness raising campaigns; 1.9% Circulars; 4.9% Networks/partnerships/agreements; 1.0% Decrees, resolutions; 4.9% Laws; 25.2%

Target groups of SPP initiatives Public sector in general; 66.0% National/federal level; 19.4% Business; 10.7% „Direct“ target group: 92.2% public sector „Indirect“ target group 100% businesses Others; 1.9% Regional and/or local level; 6.8% not identified; 8.7%

Focus of SPP initiatives: Environmental and/or social? Focus not identified (3.9%) Social only(6.8%) Environmental & social (47.6%) Environmental only (41.7%)

Overview of SPP initiatives Educational activities, e.g. conferences, seminars, trainings; 3.9% Platforms/centres/institutions; 5.8% Government-sponsored guidelines; 13.6% Action plans/programmes/strategies for CSR; 27.2% Information resources, e.g. websites, studies, reports, etc.; 11.7% Information/awareness raising campaigns; 1.9% The legal framework for SPP in France Circulars; 4.9% Networks/partnerships/agreements; 1.0% Decrees, resolutions; 4.9% Laws; 25.2%

EU Directives* on PP: Status of implementation 19: implemented 2 (Es, Lux): in preparation 1: not implemented 5: status unclear * „Procurement directive“ 2004/18/EC „Utilities directive“ 2004/17/EC

The legal framework for SPP in France

Success factors & recommendations Too early to assess the impactof the French legal framework on SPP, but the following points were mentioned: • Political backing and constitutional basis (“Charter for the Environment” as Annex to French Constitution) • Follow up:Procurers must state how they have integrated SD or justify why they did not (statistical analysis possible) • Legal framework rather than single law: General legal provisions are complemented with more specific guidelines (circulars) • Consultation of other public authorities and businesses

Challenges Legal framework is an important basis for SPP, but fostering SPP also requires: • Training • Training • Training

Challenges Legal framework is an important basis for SPP, but fostering SPP also requires: • Training of public procurers to help them understand the integrative nature of Sustainable Development • Training • Training

Challenges Legal framework is an important basis for SPP, but fostering SPP also requires: • Training of public procurers to help them understand the integrative nature of Sustainable Development • Training of public procurersto help them implement the new legal requirements/possibilities • Training

Challenges Legal framework is an important basis for SPP, but fostering SPP also requires: • Training of public procurers to help them understand the integrative nature of Sustainable Development • Training of public procurersto help them implement the new legal requirements/possibilities • Training of public procurersso that they understand the economics/efficiency of SPP

Overview of SPP initiatives Educational activities, e.g. conferences, seminars, trainings; 3.9% Platforms/centres/institutions; 5.8% Government-sponsored guidelines; 13.6% Action plans/programmes/strategies for CSR; 27.2% Information resources, e.g. websites, studies, reports, etc.; 11.7% The strategic framework for SPP in the UK Information/awareness raising campaigns; 1.9% Circulars; 4.9% Networks/partnerships/agreements; 1.0% Decrees, resolutions; 4.9% Laws; 25.2%

Member States with National Action Plans on SPP/GPP 9: NAP adopted 7: NAP in preparation/ drafted 3: No (draft) NAP 8: Status unclear

The strategic framework for SPP in the UK

Success factors & recommendations Too early to assess the impactof the strategic framework, but the following points were mentioned: • Political commitment to make SPP a government priority • Experience and goodtrack record in strategic management • Consultation of stakeholders (other departments and businesses) • Strategies on SPP should also aim to build evidence about the economic advantages of SPP

Challenges • “Value for money” (“cost-benefit ratio”) of SPP still not quantified … • … thus, potentially higher costs often regarded as unjustified strains on the budget • Building capacity and capabilityfor SPP with guidelines, trainings etc.

Orientation • Context and general remarks …About the project, the survey, the case studies • Some survey results commemorated • Types of instruments etc. • The three case studies The „legla framework“ on SPP in France • The „strategic framework“ on SPP in the UK • Guidelines on SPP/GPP in Austria • ConclusionsSynthesis of survey & case study results

Overview of SPP initiatives Educational activities, e.g. conferences, seminars, trainings; 3.9% Platforms/centres/institutions; 5.8% Government-sponsored guidelines; 13.6% Action plans/programmes/strategies for CSR; 27.2% Guidelines for SPP/GPP in Austria Information resources, e.g. websites, studies, reports, etc.; 11.7% Information/awareness raising campaigns; 1.9% Circulars; 4.9% Networks/partnerships/agreements; 1.0% Decrees, resolutions; 4.9% Laws; 25.2%

Guidelines on SPP/GPP in Austria

Success factors & recommendations • Develop practical and easy to use guidelines … • … through a close cooperation between • sustainable development experts, • procurement practitioners and • businesses • Address the issue of“value for money”(also in guidelines)

Challenges • Develop practical and easy to use guidelines … • … through a close cooperation between • sustainable development experts, • procurement practitioners and • businesses • “Value for money”argument • Broaden focus from Green to Sustainable Public Procurement

These 3 complementary instruments have developed into a standard set of SPP policy-making across the EU • Conclusions • Policies on SPP are dominated by laws, action plans and guidelines • The number of SPP initiatives seems to relate to the actual GPP performance • SPP is dominated by GPP (8 of 16 NAPs focus on GPP) • Value for money is a guiding principle of public procurement and SPP But: the effectiveness of the different SPP instruments should be assessed in depth SustainablePP should reflect economic, social and environmental aspects SD SPP initiatives should pro-actively use the value for money argument for their own purposes

Procurers must be educated and trained to implement laws and NAPs on SPP • Conclusions II • SPP initiatives often fail because of a lack of relevant (legal) knowledge and expertise among procurers • Respective capacities for SPP can be built with many complementary informational instruments, such as campaigns, guidelines and trainings • High-level political commitment, the involvement of procurers and other stakeholders and bottom-up ownership are key success factors for SPP But: these initiatives are only effective if they address the needs and concerns of public procurers NAPs and other strategic approaches to SPP should focus also on how to secure these success factors

Thanks for your support so far ---and for the upcoming final study on SRI! reinhard.steurer@wu-wien.ac.at RIMAS - Research Institute for Managing Sustainability Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration www.sustainability.eu www.sustainability.eu/csr-policies

Orientation Context and general remarks … About the project, the survey, the case studies