European Parliament paves the way for value-driven public procurement

The European Parliament has taken a significant step towards a more sustainable and socially conscious public procurement framework, approving a pivotal report that champions value over the lowest price. This move comes after months of dedicated engagement and coalition work, advocating for a procurement system that prioritises long-term societal and environmental benefits.

While acknowledging the report's imperfections, RREUSE welcomes its strong call for the European Commission to elevate social and environmental criteria in public contracts, ensuring they deliver a lasting positive impact.

Crucially, thanks to sustained input and monitoring by RREUSE and its partners, the report includes targeted references aimed at improving access for social economy actors. These key provisions include:

• Recognising reserved contracts as a good practice to boost the social economy and facilitate the employment of people with disabilities.
• Pushing for the division of contracts into smaller lots to facilitate contract accessibility and mitigate the dominance of large corporations.
• Acknowledging social enterprises as experts in delivering quality local services, thereby justifying preferential access.
• Calling for simpler procedures and reduced administrative burdens, including the elimination of requests for information already publicly available.
• Acknowledging the Social Economy Action Plan as a relevant framework for procurement.

Beyond these specific measures for social economy actors, the report also advocates for public procurement reform to align with circularity regulations, underscoring the critical importance of sustainability in public spending.

However, despite these commendable efforts, the report is not without its shortcomings. A significant concern lies in its continued emphasis on voluntary public procurement rules. Experience has shown that such voluntary frameworks have largely been ineffective in driving a substantial shift towards socially responsible, innovative, and environmentally friendly public procurement practices, necessitating a re-evaluation of enforcement mechanisms.

Furthermore, while the report commendably highlights reserved contracts as a valuable instrument for integrating individuals with disabilities into the workforce, the text should also explicitly acknowledge additional underrepresented groups facing systemic barriers to employment. A more inclusive approach in the text would strengthen the report's commitment to social inclusion and equitable opportunities.

With the European Commission anticipated to propose a public procurement reform in 2026, this report plays a vital role in shaping the policy debate and ensuring that social and environmental impact is central to future legislation. It represents a significant step towards a public procurement system that serves the collective good, rather than solely focusing on price.

Following its approval by the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO), the report is now set for a plenary vote, which is likely to take place in September. Our network of social enterprises stands ready to show how reuse, repair, and recycling can be at the heart of a procurement system that rewards purpose, not just price.