Open letter for a procurement framework that places long-term value, fairness, and sustainability at its core

As the European Parliament prepares to vote on its report on public procurement later this month, RREUSE, alongside other member organisations of the Network for Sustainable Development in Public Procurement, has issued a joint open letter urging MEPs to prioritise long-term value, fairness, and sustainability.

Public procurement accounts for 14% of the EU’s GDP. It has the power to do more than buy goods and services; it can shape fairer economies, support social inclusion, and accelerate the green transition. Yet, today, too often, tenders are still awarded based solely on the lowest price, sidelining quality, sustainability, and social impact.

In this open letter, we outline concrete recommendations for the upcoming vote in the IMCO Committee: 

• Go beyond lowest-price competition
• Prioritise decent work, fair wages & sustainability
• Improve access for social economy actors
• Advance inclusion of disadvantaged groups
• Align with EU values & social, environmental goals

For RREUSE and its members, public procurement is a key lever for supporting inclusive jobs, local economies, and the transition to a circular economy. We join our NSDPP partners in calling for a system that rewards social value, not just the cheapest offer.