Continuation of negotiations on public procurement
Article 59
1. The Parties recognise the contribution of transparent and competitive tendering to economic development. They therefore agree to negotiate the gradual and mutual opening of their public procurement markets, while recognising their different levels of development, under the conditions set out in paragraph 3. 2. To achieve this objective, the Parties shall conclude negotiations by 1 January 2009 on a set of potential commitments on procurement, which shall include in particular the following: (a) transparent and non-discriminatory rules, procedures and principles to be applied; (b) lists of the products covered and the thresholds applied; (c) effective challenge procedures; (d) measures to support capacities to implement these commitments, including making use of opportunities created by information technologies. 3. The negotiations shall be based on a two-step approach, first applying the rules in the context of regional integration in Central Africa and, after a transition period to be determined jointly, applying the rules bilaterally. 4. In conducting the negotiations, the EC Party shall take into account the development, financial and trade needs of the signatory Central African States, which may take the form of the following measures in the interest of special and differential treatment: (a) appropriate implementation periods, where required, to bring government procurement measures into line with any specific procedural requirements; (b) adoption or retention of transitional measures such as a price preference programme or offset, in accordance with a phasing-out schedule.