Translation problems delay talks on European procurement issues

The UK construction industry will be at loggerheads with Europe for at least another three years over procurement issues after the Construction Confederation (CC) was told that the European Commission was having translation problems preparing its legislative proposals.

Unable to convert the document, which sets out the co-ordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts, into different EU member languages, the second reading date is now expected to take place in February with an implementation date not now expected until after 2004.

CC director of European affairs John Bromley said: "We have been waiting since November for the second reading of the document. At this rate we could be waiting a good deal longer. We want to get this over with sooner rather than later."

The news will mean that the construction industry will still remain in the dark over European legislation and face further scorn from overseas.

Earlier this year the CC had been successfully in securing the retention of exclusive dialogue at the preferred bidder stage of Private Finance Initiative contracts.