European Commission proposes overhaul of public procurement rules

On September 9, 2026, the European Commission proposed a significant reform of public procurement rules to reduce bureaucracy and strengthen the European internal market. The proposal, championed by Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy Stéphane Séjourné, aims to replace three 2014 directives with a single, directly applicable regulation. This initiative follows warnings from experts including Mario Draghi and Enrico Letta regarding the EU's underutilization of public spending, which accounted for approximately 2.5 trillion euros—or 15% of the bloc's GDP—in 2025.

Central to the reform is the creation of a 'Digital Marketplace' to connect national and local procurement platforms under a 'once-only' data registration principle. Furthermore, the criteria for awarding contracts will shift away from the 'lowest price' model. The Commission proposes that at least 30% of evaluation weighting be based on quality, rising to 50% for labor-intensive contracts, incorporating environmental, social, and innovation standards. States will also gain the ability to prioritize European content to improve supply chain resilience.

The proposal has been approved by the College of Commissioners and must now be reviewed by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU before implementation.