What policy space for diaconal institutions? Challenges from public procurement

Abstract

Procurement processes with tender competition have been a preferred approach for engaging service providers in Norway. Even if the present Norwegian government finds it “essential that competition becomes an integral part of all public activity,” a simultaneous push for preserving the welfare mix of Norway has occurred, with public, non-profit, and for-profit actors. What specificmeasures are being undertaken to preserve the non-profit actors? How have the Norwegian authorities sought to utilize the policy space that the EU/EEA (European Economic Area) provides? The article concludes that Norway has a wide policy space for providing public health and welfare services through non-profit actors, but there is disagreement between Norway and the European Surveillance Authority (ESA) concerning which health and social welfare services that represent exercise of official authority. Procurement processes relating to such services can be reserved to non-profit actors.