Main headlines from this issue

Offset policies face legal minefield –

How to master the minecraft and comply with the directive

The European Commission declined invitations to address the GOCA/ADS Izmir offset conference, leaving many questions concerning Directive 2009/81/EC unanswered. CTO is taking this opportunity to address the directive from a legal standpoint.....

France battles UK and Germany over EC’s juste retour proposal

The European Commission has adopted a draft regulation to allow EU public bodies to exclude certain bids from outside the EU where such tenders comprise a significant element of non-EU goods and services.  The adoption of the proposal gave rise to contentious discussions and intense negotiations.

Bulgaria relegates its offset department

Bulgaria’s Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism (MEET) has transferred responsibility for offsets to another body, the Department for Investment, Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

India’s offsets: $4.27bn and counting

India’s defence offset policy has achieved more than $4.27bn in benefits from arms contracts signed since October 2007, Defence Minister AK Antony declared in a written reply to Parliament.

South Africa: DTI makes an admission

Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies has acknowledged that usual departmental practice was widely flouted in calculating offset credits awarded to contractors in the South African Strategic Defence Procurement Programme.