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Green procurement in the EU – 3E professor Harri Kalimo in a public hearing in the European Parliament on 1 December

Public procurement offers an important means to reduce environmental impacts in the EU and beyond. By procuring goods, services and works with smaller environmental impacts, the public sector can leverage its purchasing power to contribute to achieving sustainability goals. Yet, thus far environmental considerations have been integrated into public procurement only to a limited degree. Is the European legal and policy framework on public procurement thus fit for purpose? This was the question asked in the Public hearing, organised jointly by the European Parliament’s IMCO (Internal Market and Consumer Protection) and ENV (Environment) Committees.  In his intervention, Professor Harri Kalimo from the 3E research centre of the BSoG addressed five key points, which his research teams (3E in collaboration with the University of Eastern Finland) have found important, such as focusing on the environmentally most significant product groups, and developing policy mixes for different sectors of the economy. “Having the right policies in place is, however, not enough”, he reminded the MEPs. “Support structures for the contracting authorities, as well as a comprehensive monitoring of the environmental impacts along the entire procurement process are also needed.”