No. 77/03
December 10, 2003

The United States Department of Defense yesterday made findings regarding the limitation of competition for procurement for the reconstruction of Iraq to companies from the United States, Iraq, coalition partners and force-contributing nations. This limitation is said to be based on the protection of essential security interests of the United States and in the public interest.

The European Commission will now examine the 26 contracts at stake to examine whether these limitations to procurement for the reconstruction of Iraq are in line with the commitments undertaken by the United States in the content of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Government Procurement Agreement (GPA). As a first measure the European Commission will be requesting all necessary information from the US authorities concerned on the grounds for these limitations.

For more information on WTO Public Procurement: http://europa.eu.int/comm/trade/issues/sectoral/gov_proc/index_en.htm