The EU Commission is planning to revise the EU public procurement directives. A public consultation was carried out from 13 December 2024 to 7 March 2025. AK participated in the consultation, taking this as an opportunity to make some suggestions regarding the reform.

From AK´s point of view, the following three points from the perspective of sustainability and European added value are key: Best-bidder instead of cheapest-bidder principle (obligation of the contracting authority to take socio-ecological criteria into account), combating wage and social dumping (introducing general contractor liability and shortening subcontracting chains) and simplification by opening up the possibility of direct awards to strengthen the regional economy (de minimis guideline or regulation for direct awards where there is no negative impact on interstate trade).

In the future, public procurement must be strategically positioned in terms of industrial policy by defining a certain share of European added value as a prerequisite for the award of contracts in order to promote the development of European flagship companies. The special provisions for services of general interest (transport, water supply and disposal, energy, postal services) must be retained and further developed in line with the triple transition.