The European Commission has published an evaluation of the EU Public Procurement Directives, which were adopted in 2014. These rules aim 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 the Directives have only partially met their objectives. Specifically:
- 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% 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, three times the size of the EU budget. These rules are therefore crucial to ensure that public funds are spent efficiently, transparently and in line with Europe’s strategic objectives.
This evaluation marks the first step towards revising the 2014 Public Procurement Directives. President Ursula von der Leyen has announced this revision as part of the EU’s strategic agenda. Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné has underlined the enormous potential of public procurement as part of the European investment strategy to boost Europe’s competitiveness, resilience and economic security.
You can find more information on the result of the Commission’s evaluation online.