The European Commission advances a landmark reform of public procurement with a single regulation for the entire EU.

The European Commission has presented an ambitious proposal for a Public Procurement Regulation that would replace the current EU directives with a single legal framework directly applicable across all Member States. The initiative aims to simplify and harmonise public procurement rules, reduce administrative burdens, strengthen digitalisation, promote more sustainable and innovative procurement practices, and enhance the security and resilience of European supply chains. In addition, it introduces a European preference policy, allowing contracting authorities, in certain procedures, to favour operators, subcontractors and products originating within the European Union.

Among the most significant changes are the creation of a single concept of “public buyers”, the limitation of full subcontracting, the replacement of the European Single Procurement Document (ESPD) with a common electronic verification system, and the reduction of award procedures to just four categories. The proposal also strengthens the role of quality criteria over price, introduces greater flexibility in contract performance through new payment and contract modification mechanisms, updates the concessions regime, and enhances transparency through an interoperable European public procurement data network. Once adopted, the regulation will be directly applicable throughout the EU, without requiring transposition into national legislation.

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