Whilst many initiatives have been taken and many manuals and guidelines are available in the area of ecologically responsible and energy-efficient procurement, the Commission’s most recent communication on socially responsible procurement dates back to 2000, i.e. prior to the revision of the public procurement directives.

7. Welcomes the ongoing improvements in the internal control environment of the CoR, in particular, the inventory of main administrative, operational and financial procedures of the CoR, development of a guidance note for the staff on deontology and integrity, including a self-assessment checklist regarding conflicts of interests, improvement of the vade mecum of tasks and responsibilities of CoR staff, as well as organisation of an ex-post verification exercise for 2008 in all services of the CoR;

Moreover, the "Cohesion Fund Vade-mecum 2000-2006" sent to the national administrations of the four eligible Member States stipulates in particular that the strategy should be defined and formalised in an outline document which constitutes the 'frame of reference' for the assistance from the Cohesion Fund.

The main publications in 2000 include the guide covering the Structural Funds, the Cohesion Fund and ISPA ('Structural Actions 2000-2006 - Commentary and Regulations'), and the Vademecum listing the 'Community rules on State aids'. Other documents related to specific aspects of regional policy were also produced, such as the guide to the territorial pacts 2000-2006, the final report on the Terra innovative measure, a study on the urban audit, a guide to the Business innovation centres (BIC), and six studies on: the prospects for regional planning in the context of enlargement, the impact of economic and monetary Union on cohesion, employ ...[+++]ment-related initiatives in the United Kingdom, equal opportunities and the Structural Funds, local development and the strategic and sustainable management of water resources.

Following the publication of the guidelines for Urban II, the Commission helped its partners in the Member States to prepare the new programmes, mainly through a Vademecum which was put on the Inforegio Internet server in September 2000.

To ensure that these procedures comply with Community rules, the Commission, without prejudice to its powers to intervene when Community law is infringed, is encouraging the national authorities to take preventive measures, such as adequate training for staff involved in awarding such contracts and the production of guides and handbooks for the award of contracts.