Each year the institutions of the European Union tender for contracts with a total value of between Ç18 - Ç20 billion. These already large figures are likely to increase in the new budget for 2013 onwards. EU tenders are subject to a special set of rules set out in the EU's Financial Regulation and a series of subsidiary rules adopted by the EU Commission. Understanding EU Commission Tenders is based on a thorough understanding of the law but is written for everyone.
By Ray A. Moore (Professor of History and Asian Studies, Amherst College), Donald L. Robinson (Charles N. Clark Professor of Government and American Studies, Smith College)