Main headlines from this issue

Universal offset law presented to World Bank, Saab asks for something simpler

Chantal Dagnaud, chairwoman of the European Club for Countertrade and Offset (ECCO), has presented a draft law governing compensatory measures in international government procurements. The draft, offered to the World Bank’s legal forum in Washington DC, is intended to add fairness, transparency, and accountability to the process of executing offset deals. “The proposed text is an opportunity to start a process with UNCITRAL and to update its 2004 International Public Procurement model law,” Ms Dagnaud told us.

Netherlands and EC nearing closure over infringement charge - policy to continue

The Netherlands and the EC have been holding discussions to resolve a dispute over infringement proceedings. The EC launched procedures against the Netherlands last year for imposing what it sees as unjustified offset requirements in breach of Directive 2009/81/EC. The exchange of views was described as positive, with a conclusion to the dispute quite near.

“Directive 2009/81 has given us the worst situation that we could imagine”

Dr Enrique Navarro dismissed the notion that offsets had fallen out of favour in Europe following the implementation of Directive 2009/81/EC. Member states are towing the EU line on offsets in public while continuing to approve rules allowing their countries to use them, he told GOCA delegates.

TAIWAN WANTS PRE-MOA OFFSETS

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence confirmed that deputy minister Chang Guan-chung is negotiating to establish an early evaluation process for offsets before issuing Letters of Acceptance. Taiwanese officials were speaking at and on the sidelines of a U.S.-Taiwan Defence Industry Conference in Annapolis, Maryland.

Brazil’s unified offset policy sees further delays

Representatives of the Brazilian Air Force have confirmed that a new unified offset policy under development in the country could still be a year or more away from approval. The new policy, known as the National Compensation Policy, or PNAC, aims to create a single set of offset guidelines for all branches of the military as well as civil agencies.