On public procurement
A-10-2025-0147
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection · Rapporteur: Piotr Müller
- Voted on · Adopted 432–95–124 · See the decision →
- Full procedure 2024/2103
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This resolution on public procurement calls for a reform of the EU framework to boost competitiveness, simplify rules, and promote strategic goals like sustainability and SME access.¶¶¶ It stresses the need to move away from lowest-price awards towards best price-quality ratio, enhance transparency and anti-corruption measures, and address challenges like declining competition and administrative burdens.¶¶¶ The resolution also emphasizes digitalisation, cross-border cooperation, and the use of procurement to support EU strategic autonomy and resilience, while respecting international commitments.¶¶¶
Committee position. The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection calls for a comprehensive reform of the EU public procurement framework, emphasizing simplification, strategic use, and enhanced competition.¶¶
Key points
- Calls for a revision of the EU public procurement framework to reduce bureaucracy, simplify rules, and align with strategic objectives like competitiveness, sustainability, and SME access.¶¶¶
- Stresses the need to strengthen enforcement, ensure legal certainty, and address fragmentation across member states, while respecting national and local autonomy.¶¶¶
- Highlights declining competition and over-reliance on lowest-price criteria, urging more use of MEAT criteria and non-price factors like quality and sustainability.¶¶
- Calls for updating procurement thresholds and simplifying procedures to reduce burdens on contracting authorities and SMEs.¶¶
- Advocates for a digital-first approach, including interoperable platforms, eForms, and a public procurement data space, to enhance transparency and efficiency.¶¶¶
- Urges measures to combat corruption and increase transparency, including publication of negotiated procedure justifications and stronger oversight.¶¶
- Calls for clearer rules on excluding non-EU bidders and addressing unfair advantages from subsidies, while respecting international commitments.¶¶¶
- Recommends supporting SME participation through simplified procedures, division into lots, and reduced administrative burdens.¶¶¶
- Emphasizes the importance of social and environmental criteria, including respect for labour laws and collective bargaining, and calls for guidance to ensure legal certainty.¶¶
- Calls for action on subcontracting to prevent abuse, including transparency and possible joint liability.¶
- Supports flexibility in contract pricing and duration, and encourages innovation procurement and variant bids.¶¶¶
- Requests impact assessments on European preference in strategic sectors, ensuring consistency with international law and avoiding protectionism.¶
Who is affected
- Contracting authorities at all levels, especially local and regional governments, will face simplified procedures and new digital tools.¶¶
- SMEs and start-ups will benefit from reduced administrative burdens, division into lots, and support mechanisms.¶¶
- Non-EU bidders may face stricter scrutiny and potential exclusion under reciprocity rules.¶¶
- Workers and social economy actors may see improved labour standards and reserved contracts.¶¶
Figures and deadlines
- Public procurement represents approximately 14% of the EU's GDP.¶
- 20 Member States awarded more than 50% of tenders based on price alone in 2023; 10 awarded more than 80%.¶
- Direct cross-border procurements remain limited to just 5% of all contracts.¶
- The current directives contain 476 articles or 907 pages.¶
- The Commission aims to reduce reporting burdens by 25% and 35% for SMEs.¶
Legal basis: Articles 114, 151 and 156 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union¶