EUROSYSTEM
PROCUREMENT COORDINATION
OFFICE (EPCO)

The Eurosystem Procurement coordination Office (EPCO) is the function established by the Governing Council of the European Central Bank to coordinate joint procurement activities for the benefit of the central banks of the Eurosystem/European System of Central Banks (ESCB).

Following the appointment by the Governing Council of the European Central Bank, the Banque centrale du Luxembourg (BCL) is acting as the host central bank of EPCO since 2008.

The ongoing five-year mandate period of BCL runs until December 2024.

EPCO reports to the ECB Governing Council, via the Eurosystem EPCO Steering Committee (ESC) and the ECB Executive Board.

25 Eurosystem

/ ESCB members

10-15%

of estimated benefits /
cost avoidance

10 Lead

Central Banks

More than
164 projects/year

ABOUT EPCO

Mission & Scope

  • The Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) considers joint procurement of goods and services as an instrument to comply with the principles of cost-efficiency and effectiveness and to achieve best value for money.
  • The Governing Council considers joint procurement of goods and services to be an instrument to achieve these objectives by exploiting synergies and economies of scale.
  • For this reason, with the establishment in 2008 of a framework for joint Eurosystem procurement and the creation of the Eurosystem Procurement Coordination Office (EPCO), the ECB wished to foster the cooperation in the area of joint cross-border procurement among the ESCB central banks.

The Network of Procurement Experts

The EPCO’s activities are performed thanks to the well established “EPCO Network of Procurement Experts”.

The Network is composed by high-level procurement experts and managers of all central banks of the ESCB participating in EPCO’s activities.

The EPCO’s Network serves as an essential platform and forum to facilitate and promote the implementation of EPCO’s procurement and contract activities, as well as the exchange of best practices among its members.

Main tasks

EPCO is responsible for coordinating joint procurement activities for the benefit of its member central banks. Together with the central banks leading the EPCO joint procurement projects and the participating institutions, EPCO is in charge of:

  • Assessing and identifying potential cases for joint Eurosystem procurement
  • Preparing an annual EPCO Procurement Plan
  • Consolidating the requirements of the EPCO central banks
  • Supporting the central banks in joint tender procedures
  • Supporting the central banks in procurements related to common projects of the ESCB
  • Supporting the central banks in contract management activities.

Furthermore, via its Network of Procurement Experts and other dedicated Experts Groups, EPCO reinforces the cooperation of the ESCB central banks via the development, promotion and adoption of best procurement practices within the Eurosystem.

Reference documents

PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS

Who can participate in EPCO’s activities

  • The ESCB Central Banks

The Central Banks of the Eurosystem, as well as all those National Central Banks (NCBs) of the Member States that have not yet adopted the euro, including where relevant, their in-house printing works [those falling under the definition of Article 1.2n of Guideline (EU) 2015/280 (ECB/2014/44)].

  • Other Entities

Furthermore, since 2016, some national authorities of Member States, Union institutions and bodies and international organisations might also participate in EPCO’s joint tender procedures subject to invitation by the ECB Governing Council and under pre-defined conditions.
In particular, the non-NCBs National Competent Authorities (NCAs) of the Member States that have adopted the euro are specifically invited to participate in EPCO’s activities.

  • The participation in EPCO’s activities and in joint tender procedures is voluntary.

PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS

Select an institution

Select an institution
Suomen Pankki - Finlands Bank Eesti Pank Danmarks Nationalbank Sveriges Riksbank Lietuvos Bankas / Bank of Lithuania Latvijas Banka De Nederlandsche Bank Banque centrale du Luxembourg European Central Bank Deutsche Bundesbank Banque de France Banca d’Italia Hrvatska narodna banka Banka Slovenije Oesterreichische Nationalbank Národná banka Slovenska Banca Naţională a României Bank of Greece Central Bank of Malta Banco de España Banco de Portugal Central Bank of Ireland Banc Ceannais na hÉireann Nationale Bank van België/Banque Nationale de Belgique Central Bank of Cyprus Bulgarian National Bank

Suomen Pankki - Finlands Bank

(year of joining 2008)

link

Eesti Pank

(year of joining 2020)

link

Danmarks Nationalbank

(year of joining 2017)

link

Sveriges Riksbank

(year of joining 2016)

link

Lietuvos Bankas / Bank of Lithuania

(year of joining 2016)

link

Latvijas Banka

(year of joining 2017)

link

De Nederlandsche Bank

(year of joining 2008)

link

Banque centrale du Luxembourg

(year of joining 2008)

link

European Central Bank

(year of joining 2008)

link

Deutsche Bundesbank

(year of joining 2008)

link

Banque de France

(year of joining 2008)

link

Banca d’Italia

(year of joining 2008)

link

Hrvatska narodna banka

(year of joining 2013)

link

Banka Slovenije

(year of joining 2017)

link

Oesterreichische Nationalbank

(year of joining 2008)

link

Národná banka Slovenska

(year of joining 2009)

link

Banca Naţională a României

(year of joining 2008)

link

Bank of Greece

(year of joining 2008)

link

Central Bank of Malta

(year of joining 2008)

link

Banco de España

(year of joining 2008)

link

Banco de Portugal

(year of joining 2008)

link

Central Bank of Ireland Banc Ceannais na hÉireann

(year of joining 2008)

link

Nationale Bank van België/Banque Nationale de Belgique

(year of joining 2008)

link

Central Bank of Cyprus

(year of joining 2008)

link

Bulgarian National Bank

(year of joining 2023)

link

Select an institution

Select an institution
Malta Financial Services Authority Financial Market Authority European Stability Mechanism Financial Sector Surveillance Commission European Investment Bank Bank for International Settlements European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority Federal Financial Supervisory Authority Estonian Financial Supervision Authority Financial Services and Markets Authority Single Resolution Board European Banking Authority European Securities and Markets Authority

Malta Financial Services Authority

(MFSA)

link

Financial Market Authority

(FMA)

link

European Stability Mechanism

(ESM)

link

Financial Sector Surveillance Commission

(CSSF)

link

European Investment Bank

(EIB)

link

Bank for International Settlements

(BIS)

link

European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority

(EIOPA)

link

Federal Financial Supervisory Authority

(BaFin)

link

Estonian Financial Supervision Authority

(EFSA)

link

Financial Services and Markets Authority

(FSMA)

link

Single Resolution Board

(SRB)

link

European Banking Authority

(EBA)

link

European Securities and Markets Authority

(ESMA)

link

- CENTRAL BANKS -

JOINT PROCUREMENTS

GENERAL INFORMATION

Learn more

THE LEAD CENTRAL BANKS

Learn more

PROCUREMENT & CONTRACT OPPORTUNITIES

Learn more

CAREERS

Job opportunities within EPCO

EPCO regularly offers exciting job opportunities to those candidates looking for challenges in an international and European environment.

If you are interested in working with EPCO, please consult the job offering presented in the BCL website: http://www.bcl.lu/en/About/carrieres/Vacances/index.html or send us your application to jobs@bcl.lu

Traineeship opportunities

EPCO offers traineeship opportunities for students, recent graduates and job entrants on a regular basis.

Advantages of a traineeship at EPCO

Opportunity to work in an international environment and to gain an insight into EPCO’s activities and operations in a central bank context, including:

 

  • Assistance in the realisation of various procurements and contract projects
  • Contribution to EPCO’s missions
  • Participation in the activities and meetings of the EPCO Network of Procurement Experts

Tasks

Depending on the skills and competencies of the trainee, task allocated to the trainee might include:

  • market research exercises
  • preparation of reports
  • coordination of procurement activities
  • organisation of international meetings
  • participation in ad hoc studies

Should you be interested in a traineeship with EPCO, please send your CV with a motivation letter to: jobs@bcl.lu.

NEWS AND EVENTS

21/03/2024

78th meeting of the EPCO Network of Procurement Experts

27-28/06/2024

79th meeting of the EPCO Network of Procurement Experts

16/10/2024

80th meeting of the EPCO Network of Procurement Experts

17/10/2024

2024 EPCO Public Procurement Conference

05/12/2024

81st meeting of the EPCO Network of Procurement Experts

19/10/2023

2023 EPCO Public Procurement Conference

15/12/2022

2022 EPCO Public Procurement Conference 

03/12/2021

2021 EPCO Public Procurement Conference

CONTACT

Banque centrale du Luxembourg
2, Boulevard Royal, L-2983 Luxembourg

Telephone : +352 4774 4809

Email : epco@bcl.lu