Concerns remain over a new public procurement law, a petition calls for a full ban on animal testing for cosmetics, and a post-summit debriefing in the EP.

Public procurement / Animal testing / Post-summit meeting

The latest round of talks on changes to  public procurement was held Wednesday

as MEPs welcomed  Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht.

The aim is to increase reciprocity to aid  European businesses in foreign markets.

But MEPs are worried about allowing  local authorities to exclude external bidders,

I still fear this dossier will be blocked by the  Council. That would be the worst solution.

The European Council is still questioning  whether it wants this instrument.

The main problem are articles 8 and 10  which would give the Commission the right

to exclude bidders from specific countries  and sectors from operating in Europe.

Since 2013, products tested on animals  have been banned in Europe.

But a petition with over 250,000 signatures  says the EU isn’t sticking to the ban.

The Commission indicates that  the ban only applies

where an ingredient is specifically  developed for cosmetic purposes

or is used exclusively  for cosmetics purposes.

There is therefore a risk that  the cosmetics testing and marketing bans

could be undermined  by very narrow interpretations.

At the Petitions Committee meeting,  representatives of the Commission

underlined their commitment to the ban  and support to research for alternatives.

It was an open court at the EP on  Wednesday at the post-EU summit debrief

with MEPs directing a lot of criticism at the  Council’s President Herman Van Rompuy.

we can’t ignore how citizens are reacting to  the crisis – like how they voted in Italy –

adding that the Council  carries on and does nothing.

Corien Wortmann-Kool added  the EPP’s dissatisfaction:

but real action to get Europe  out of trouble is lacking.