This paper analyses the EU legal framework of Joint Cross-Border Procurement. This is an instrument for achieving the (cross-border) satisfaction of the needs of different EU Member States’ public authorities. This goal, however, seems to be (partially) at odds with the extremely complicated rules and their application which - together with other practical considerations, makes contracting authorities favour alternative procurement procedures.

The role of innovative procurement as a sustainability tool. The paper analyses the relationship between sustainable development and public procurement system from a juridical perspective. After having examined the application of the “Sustainable Public Procurement” strategy in so-called “traditional” procurement, the study explores the sustainability benefits that can be derived from the use of so-called “innovative” procurement by contracting administrations.