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Public procurement

TA-10-2025-0174 · P10_TA(2025)0174 · PE767.975

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Parliament's resolution on public procurement calls for reform to boost competitiveness, sustainability, and resilience, while simplifying rules and supporting SMEs. It urges preference for European products in strategic sectors, better use of quality criteria over lowest price, and stronger anti-corruption measures. It demands digitalisation, cross-border cooperation, and protection against unfair competition from non-EU bidders.

Key points

  1. Calls for harmonised implementation and streamlined objectives for public procurement, ensuring legal certainty and reducing lengthy procedures.
  2. Supports introducing European preference in strategic sectors, but compliant with WTO commitments and avoiding protectionism.
  3. Urges alignment of reform with reducing bureaucracy, maintaining social and environmental standards, and boosting competitiveness.
  4. Notes declining competition and over-reliance on lowest price; calls for more use of MEAT criteria and life-cycle costing.
  5. Calls for updating procurement thresholds and simplifying procedures for smaller contracts.
  6. Advocates digital-first approach, interoperable platforms, and a European public procurement data space.
  7. Calls for stronger transparency and anti-corruption measures, including publication of negotiated procedures and exclusion criteria revision.
  8. Urges action against non-EU bidders with state subsidies, including exclusion rules and reciprocity under the International Procurement Instrument.
  9. Calls for support for SMEs, including simplified procedures, division into lots, and reduced administrative burdens.
  10. Recommends strengthening socially responsible procurement, including binding social clauses and support for social economy actors.
  11. Calls for measures against abusive subcontracting, including joint liability and transparency.
  12. Requests impact assessment on European preference and industrial partnerships for strategic projects.

Who is affected

  • Contracting authorities at all levels, especially smaller ones, will see simplified procedures and more flexibility.
  • SMEs and start-ups benefit from reduced burdens, division into lots, and support mechanisms.
  • Non-EU bidders face stricter scrutiny and possible exclusion without reciprocal access.
  • Social economy actors and non-profits gain from reserved contracts and strengthened possibilities.

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.
  • Lowest price is applied in up to 95% of cases in some Member States.
  • Reduction of legally mandated reporting requirements by 25% and 35% for SMEs.

Legal basis: Articles 114, 151 and 156 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union