Decision (EU) 2020/628 of the European Central Bank of 4 May 2020 amending Decision ECB/2008/17 laying down the framework for joint Eurosystem procurement (ECB/2020/27)

‘1a EPCO shall be hosted by a central bank. The Governing Council shall appoint the hosting central bank every five years.’;

‘7 The EPCO Steering Committee shall conduct an effectiveness and efficiency evaluation of EPCO’s activities in due course before the end of each five-year period referred to in paragraph 1a. Based on this evaluation, and taking into account the interest of other central banks in hosting EPCO, the Governing Council shall decide if it is necessary to conduct a selection procedure to choose a new hosting central bank.’;

‘3 Each year EPCO shall submit an updated procurement plan for joint tender procedures, including the names of the leading central banks, to the Governing Council for approval. The updated procurement plan submitted by EPCO may include an indication of areas in which, within specified limits, additional opportunities for joint procurement may be pursued prior to the next update. The Governing Council shall decide on the procurement plan and its implementation following consultation with the EPCO Steering Committee.’;

1 The Governing Council may invite the national central banks of the Member States that have not yet adopted the euro to participate in EPCO’s activities and joint tender procedures under the same conditions as those applying to central banks of the Eurosystem. In addition, the Governing Council may invite national authorities of Member States, Union institutions and bodies, or international organisations to participate in EPCO’s activities and joint tender procedures under the conditions laid down by the Governing Council in the invitation. Any such invitation shall be limited to the joint procurement of goods and services for fulfilling needs common to the central banks and the invited entities and the conditions shall be similar to those that apply to the central banks of the Eurosystem.

2 In-house printing works which, in accordance with Article 1, point 2(b) of Guideline (EU) 2015/280 (ECB/2014/44), are separate legal persons and fulfil the cumulative conditions laid down in that provision may directly participate in joint tender procedures and be treated for the purposes of this Article as part of the central bank in their Member State. Such participation shall be limited to the joint procurement of goods and services necessary for the performance by those in-house printing works of Eurosystem tasks.’.

This Decision shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.