Brussels, October 15, 2025 – The European Commission (EC) has published its evaluation of the EU Public Procurement Directives adopted in 2014, concluding that the framework has achieved only partial success in meeting its objectives of transparency, efficiency, and open market access.
According to the EC, the Directives have improved transparency — contract values have doubled since adoption — but legal complexity and uneven implementation persist. Authorities recorded fewer bids per tender, indicating declining competition, even though small and medium-sized enterprises continue to win about 71% of contracts.
Direct cross-border participation in procurement remains limited, while progress on green, social, and innovative procurement varies significantly between member states. Corruption risks also persist due to incomplete data and weak compliance monitoring.
Broader Policy Context
Public procurement accounts for roughly 15% of EU GDP each year — about €616 billion (approximately $718.02 billion), or three times the EU’s annual budget — making it a central tool for advancing industrial and sustainability goals. The evaluation marks the first step toward revising the 2014 framework, a reform already announced under President Ursula von der Leyen’s strategic agenda.
Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné said the review underscores procurement’s potential to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, resilience, and economic security.
Source: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/mex_25_2395
