Government facilitates access by SMEs and entrepreneurs to public contracts

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

The Council of Ministers approved new measures to support Spanish companies, particularly SMEs.

The government amended the General Regulation of the Public Procurement Act to facilitate access by small- and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurs to public contracts. The Vice-President of the Government, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, framed this decision as part of the global process to reform the public administration and to reduce bureaucracy.

The main new feature is that it will no longer be necessary for businesses to have a specific business classification to accede to contracts for services, with the corresponding saving in time and costs. A voluntary and more simple system of classification than the present one will be introduced, which will facilitate the work of companies that submit bids for public offers on a regular basis.

Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría highlighted that the new legislation will extend the period in which previous works carried out by companies are taken into account to substantiate their experience: in works contracts, it will be increased from five to ten years and in contracts for services, from three to five years. Moreover, the experience of subsidiaries of Spanish companies overseas may be also taken into account.

Participation in European Union projects

The Council of Ministers also approved the Programme for the Management of Instruments of the European Union and Spanish Business. The aim is to extend the access of companies to business opportunities within the framework of projects of EU foreign action. The Vice-President of the Government pointed out that in this way "it will be possible to open up the options of the Spanish economy to access funds that could exceed 96-97 billion euros".

The programme will be designed through three types of action: in beneficiary countries, in Brussels and in relation to the selection of the successful bidders for specific projects. Among other measures, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría quoted improving the training of personnel in the Spanish public administration overseas and a greater distribution among companies of the opportunities that can derive from the EU's foreign action.

Partial pardon for Josefa Hernández

Pool MoncloaThe Government's Spokesperson notified the approval of a Royal Decree granting a pardon to Josefa Hernández, a resident of the island of Fuerteventura. "This will be notified immediately, despite the order for her imprisonment being suspended and lifted", she said.

Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría explained that this is a partial pardon that only affects her deprivation of liberty, and hence "the obligation to demolish the works unlawfully carried out will be maintained and enforced, because the government must respect prevailing legislation". In this regard, she mentioned the need for the Regional Government of the Canary Islands to make "a suitable dwelling" available for Josefa Hernández "in order to meet the requirements of the other part of the ruling".

The Vice-President of the Government expressed her gratitude for "the speed with which the announcement of this granting of her pardon has led to her release", and expressed the government's wish that "with the collaboration of all tiers of government, and this is obviously the government's intention, a suitable solution to this difficult family situation can be found".

Backing for Ryder Cup and 8th centenary of University of Salamanca

Under the heading of investments, the Council of Ministers backed Spain's candidature to host the golf Ryder Cup in 2022. Spain's choice of Costa Brava-Barcelona will be presented by the Spanish Royal Golf Federation on 4 September.

"Once again, the Government of Spain is supporting the candidature of Catalonia to host a major international event", remarked Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, who pointed out that the last European edition of this competition was broadcast in 183 countries with a direct economic impact of more than 127 million euros. She also recalled that this sport-tourism activity generates more than one million visits by inbound tourists each year and spending of more than 1.3 billion euros for the Spanish economy.

Pool MoncloaThe Council of Ministers also approved a Royal Decree that adapts the composition of the Inter-institutional Committee for the commemoration of the 8th centenary of the foundation of the University of Salamanca. This body will drive and coordinate the activities to be carried out by the public authorities, public and private entities and individuals in relation to this event.

It also authorised 20 emergency actions to guarantee the supply of water in the river basins of the Rivers Júcar and Segura, as well as the granting to the Regional Government of the Canary Islands of a nominative subsidy to finance the regular public passenger land transport system.

Other agreements

On another note, the Council of Ministers approved a Royal Decree restructuring the Royal Household "to include a series of provisions that strengthen the principle of transparency, for example in terms of procurement", declared Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría. The new features include the possibility of the Management of the Royal Household approving a mandatory Code of Conduct for all staff.

The Council also granted two posthumous awards: the Great Cross of the Civil Order of Alfonso X the Wise to Lina Morgan for her contribution to the spread of theatre and culture, and the Great Cross of the Order of Civil Merit to José María Benegas, "an advocate of co-existence, the common good and the sense of State", in the words of the Vice-President of the Government.

Current affairs

Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría pointed out that Spain has a "consolidated policy" on issues of immigration and asylum and extensive experience in managing these situations, acknowledged by the European authorities, which supports "respect for legality", "the search for greater integration" of immigrants, "the fight against mafias", and the search for solutions "in collaboration and cooperation" with countries of origin. On this issue, "we will always demand comprehensive management and a genuine European policy", she concluded.

Pool MoncloaIn response to questions from journalists on the search of the headquarters of Convergencia Democrática de Cataluña (CDC - Democratic Convergence of Catalonia), Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría said that in recent years all political groupings have been subject to this type of investigation. Furthermore, she called for judicial actions to be respected and asked the CDC "not to look for culprits outside of its ranks", because the fight against corruption "is independent of parties or election dates".

The Vice-President of the Government highlighted that the General State Budget for 2016 will enable the government to continue implementing those policies that have led to economic recovery and job creation, and stressed that, within the margins allowed by the "current situation of recovery", it is possible to start to compensate the "most extraordinary" efforts made by public servants and maintain pension rises, which have enhanced the "purchasing power" of pensioners.

As regards the reform of the Constitution, she reiterated that this is a possibility. To achieve this, it is necessary to "have a clear objective" and achieve a degree of consensus that "if we are realistic, does not exist", she stressed.