Empowering Local and Regional Governments: A Call for a Public Procurement Directive that Reflects their Realities
On Monday 27 January, Tanja Struve, Chair of CEMR’s Expert Group on Public Services, participated in the IMCO Committee’s exchange of views on public procurement. This session was organised as part of the European Parliament’s own initiative report on public procurement and brought together experts and policymakers to address key challenges and opportunities in this policy field.
During her intervention, Ms. Struve presented the CEMR Expert Group’s positions, stressing the urgent need for a public procurement directive that better reflects the realities of local and regional governments (LRGs). She highlighted the significant role LRGs play as the largest public investors and contracting authorities in the European Union and the challenges they face under the current directives.
Why Public Procurement Matters
Public procurement is a cornerstone of the European economy, accounting for around 14% of the EU’s GDP. It is a critical tool for governments to deliver public services, promote innovation, and drive sustainability. The existing EU Public Procurement Directives, adopted in 2014, aim to modernise procurement practices by fostering transparency, competition, and efficiency.
While the EU’s procurement framework has brought some improvements, there is a growing consensus among local governments that reforms are needed to better align the directives with the realities on the ground. Indeed LRGs—the largest contracting authorities in the EU—face significant challenges in navigating the current framework because of the overly complex procedures, rigid rules, and heavy administrative burdens that limit flexibility and make it difficult for local authorities to adapt procurement practices to their specific needs.
“Public procurement is vital, and LRGs are the largest public investors and contracting authorities in the EU,” Ms. Struve stated. “However, they face several challenges with the current public procurement directives. They need simplification, flexibility, and the ability to adapt procurement practices to local needs without overloading procedures.” said Tanja Struve, Chair of CEMR’s Expert Group on Public Services.
Ms. Struve emphasised three critical areas for reform:
- Greater flexibility to adapt procurement practices to local circumstances.
- Simplified rules to streamline processes and improve procedures.
- Reduced administrative burdens to ensure more efficient and effective procurement practices.
These changes, she explained, are essential to empower local governments to deliver high-quality public services while safeguarding their right to self-governance.
Next Steps for the Expert Group
CEMR’s Expert Group on Public Services is finalising its position paper on public procurement. The document, which consolidates the group’s recommendations and insights, is currently under review by the Secretary Generals of CEMR. It is set to be adopted and published in the coming days.
This position paper will serve as a cornerstone for CEMR’s advocacy efforts, providing clear and actionable guidance to EU policymakers on creating a public procurement framework that truly supports local and regional governments.
For more information, contact:
Officer – Employment, Digitalisation and Public Services
