The workshop seeks to explore the strategic role of electronic public procurement and highlight its importance for the broader European region. Public procurement is one of the major economic activities of the government and constitutes a vital sector of the economy not only at a national but also at a European level as it accou...The workshop seeks to explore the strategic role of electronic public procurement and highlight its importance for the broader European region. Public procurement is one of the major economic activities of the government and constitutes a vital sector of the economy not only at a national but also at a European level as it accounts for 16.3% of the Community GDP. Consequently, its procedural harmonisation realized via legislative frameworks, directives and IDABC guidelines, and its internet mediated conduct, foster competition and transparency while increase control over public spending via an efficient acquisition process, delivering this way quality and value to the involved stakeholders. Who should attend The workshop is meant for different electronic procurement stakeholders such as:

• Policy makers across EU and West Balkans
• Public Administrations, across the EU region aiming to control public spending and achieve a more efficient acquisition process
• Research Community members focusing on issues related to public procurement and e-government
• Industrial Community that is large, medium size companies and start-ups

Topics to be covered
• The state of electronic public procurement at a European level
• Adoption of electronic public procurement (ePP) in the West Balkans and South East Europe
• Electronic public procurement activities and research initiative across Europe
• Public procurement in developing and developed countries
• Impact of public procurement at a national and regional level
• Electronic public procurement (ePP) benefits and opportunities for the public sector
• Best practice cases of electronic public procurement (ePP), compliant with the IDABC functional requirements
• Electronic public procurement solutions in line with the European Directives
• The future of public procurement: research and practice

Call for proposals for the Industrial Panel Industry Panel Discussion Moderator: Gregory Yovanof INTRASOFT International S.A.

Potential Themes include:
• The industrial perspective of electronic public procurement (ePP)
• Experiences & trends
• ePP critical issues & challenges for enterprises
• Lessons learned and impacts from ePP practices
• The future of electronic public procurement

Panel participants will make a short presentations (1-2 slides) addressing the above mentioned themes or similar ones. The presentations will be followed by open discussion between the Workshop participants and the panel. Proposals can be sent to Christos.Georgousopoulos@intrasoft-intl.com. Please note that the deadline has been extended to 16th February 2009