ABSTRACT
The Eurocodes system was developed to facilitate the application of the first European Public Procurement Directive (1971) in the field of design rules for buildings and civil engineering works. In 1975, the Commission of the European Community decided on an action programme based on Article 95 of the Treaty of Rome. The objective of the programme was the elimination of technical obstacles to trade and the harmonisation of technical specifications for construction works. The documents, which were not really standards at the origin, were based on the works of international scientific associations and were intended to be used as a reference for the judgement of public tenders.
