The European Commission has signalled it is looking at a revision of the EU’s 2014 Public Procurement Directives as part of its strategic agenda to boost Europe’s competitiveness and economic security.
The European Commission has published an evaluation of the EU Public Procurement Directives, which shows they have only partially met their objectives.
The stated aim of the Public Procurement Directives is to ensure fair access to public procurement for all businesses, secure better value for taxpayers’ money, strengthen transparency to prevent corruption and encourage more sustainable and innovative public spending.
The evaluation shows that these aims are not being fully met.
- They did not improve legal clarity or flexibility; new sector-specific rules added complexity;
- Transparency has improved and contract values have doubled, but corruption risks remain and data gaps hinder compliance checks;
- Competition is mixed: average bids per tender are down, but large contracts still attract strong interest, and SMEs win 71% of contracts;
- Direct cross-border participation in the EU remains limited;
- Green, social, and innovative procurement is progressing, but unevenly across the EU.
Public authorities in the EU spend around 15 per cent of GDP a year on procurement, in sectors such as energy, transport, healthcare, and education. EU procurement rules apply to as much as a quarter of this expenditure, with an average annual value of €616 billion. This is three times the size of the EU budget.
Public procurement are seen as crucial to ensure that public funds are spent efficiently, transparently and in line with Europe’s strategic objectives.
The evaluation published today marks a first step towards revising the 2014 Public Procurement Directives. The revision was announced by the Commission president Ursula von der Leyen as part of the EU’s strategic agenda. EC vice-president Stéphane Séjourné underlined the enormous potential of public procurement as part of the European investment strategy to boost Europe’s competitiveness, resilience and economic security.
Further information at the Register of Commission documents
