The European Union, with the aim of strengthening domestic industries and reducing reliance on foreign competitors, has been reforming public procurement laws. These reforms will mean major changes in how suppliers are evaluated and selected across the ۲۷ member countries of this economic bloc.
Union Officials Emphasize the Importance of Contracts
According to Union officials, the public procurement market in Europe is valued at over €۲.۶ trillion annually, which is equivalent to ۱۵% of the region's GDP. Of this amount, about €۶۰۰ billion in public contracts is put to tender each year across these ۲۷ countries. These figures reflect the economic and strategic power of this area.
Union officials believe that using these contracts as a tool to advance industrial and economic strategies at a time when China, India, and the United States are also seeking progress in this field is crucial. Therefore, the new reforms aim to reduce bureaucracy and facilitate the bidding processes for smaller companies.
Changes in Supplier Selection Criteria
The proposed reforms include reducing the number of pages of regulations from ۹۰۰ to ۲۰۰ and creating a single platform for public tenders. These changes will allow local officials to pay more attention to criteria such as supply security, sustainability, and preference for European products, rather than just price.
Union officials emphasize that many local officials do not use the existing powers to choose European companies over foreign suppliers. In this regard, they are enabling local officials to choose European buses instead of Chinese ones, thereby prioritizing the promotion of domestic production.
