relecture CP FR->EN sur les marchés publics

[Jeanne Tadeusz <jtadeusz AT april.org>]

Bonsoir,

J'ai commencé la traduction du CP de l'April sur les marchés publics : 
http://www.april.org/node/14479 . 
(http://www.april.org/marches-publics-lapril-se-saisit-de-la-question-des-appels-doffres-informatiques-illegaux 
pour la version française)
Si vous avez quelques minutes, j'apprécierai beaucoup une relecture, si 
possible avant la fin de la semaine.

Merci beaucoup!

Jeanne.

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Paris, november 18th, 2010. Press release

Some calls for tenders in public procurement for computer software and 
hardware explicitly exclude Free Software by demanding proprietary 
technologies. Such legal tenders are illegal and discriminatory. That is 
why April, in accordance with its mission of promotion and defense of 
Free Software, is tackling this issue via an awareness campaigne 
targeted to public buyers.

Indeed, when a public procurement demands a specific brand, patent or 
technology, it excludes all other solutions, including potentially 
innovative Free Software, despite the limitations in the legislation 
regarding the reference to a specific technology in public procurements. 
In France, the Public Procurement Code (code des marchés publics) 
prohibits the mention of specific brands, patents or technology1. 
European law also applies the same principles: the Commission 
consequently (called to order?) France (in 2004) and other European 
countries multiple times on the issue2, after whith the ministry of 
Economy published a guidebook on the best practices in public 
procurement for computers3 But today still, over 20% of public 
procurement in computer software at European level do not respect those 
principles4. This obligation is not purely formal, and international 
examples such as the one in Canada 5 shows both the importance of 
conforming to the rules and to opportunities that stems from them.

Such illegal practices are nefarious for competition and unduly exclude 
Free Software companies from public procurement. That is why April is 
doing a awaraness campaign targeted to public buyers. "Such practices 
are often the result of public buyers who do not realise the importance 
of the issue", explains Jeanne Tadeusz, publics affairs officer at 
April. "This campaign does not aim at stigmatization, but at informing 
and helping. That's the reason why are offering such tools: to change 
the situation at the local level". to acheive this goal, a guidebook (in 
French) is now available on April's website, which gives out pointers 
for companies which are dealing with this problem on a daily basis.

April is joining forces for this campaign with the French National 
Council for Free Software (Conseil National du Logiciel Libre) which 
regroups the main regional associations of Free software companies.

"Those illegal public tenders have nefarious consequences for the 
economy as a whole", concludes Patrice Bertrand, spokeperson for the 
CNLL. Not only the companies cannot offer their products, but public 
buyers are also depriving themselves of solution which might better fit 
their needs. And as for citizens, they also are affected, if nothing 
else by the impact on public finances : public buying represent over 10% 
of France GDP 6, hence the importance of following the rules of equality 
between candidates in order to choose the best offer available".

April's president and the spokeperson for the CNLL have sent a letter to 
the presidents of the Association of the Regions of France (Association 
des régions de France - ARF), of the Assembly of the Departements of 
France (Assemblée des départements de France - ADF), and of the 
association of the mayors of France (association des maires de France - 
AMF) for an interview in order to present the aims of this campaign.

The campaign will kick off during the salon des Maires et des 
Collectivités Locales in Paris.