On 09 September the European Commission published the eagerly awaited proposal for a Public Procurement Act (‘the Act’).

The Act represents one of the most significant proposed reforms of the EU public procurement regime in more than a decade.

Early commentaries focus on the:

·        Act as a strategic reset of EU procurement, not simply a consolidation exercise;

·        Elevation of quality above price as the central award principle;

·        Proposed mechanisms allowing greater preference for European or “covered” suppliers and European content; 

·        Proposed “simplification” of the procedural mechanisms.     

Among the other topics likely to be discussed include:

·        How contracting authorities will balance their procurement priorities with other EU economic-security instruments;

·        The role of delegated acts of the Commission under the Act; 

·        Exemptions for utility activities - how will it work; and

·        The interplay with (for ex.) the proposed Industrial Accelerator Act and the Cloud and AI Development Act?

Participants in this first 'Chatham House rule' in-person / webinar discussion (including Q&As) with Esther Eva Schmidt - coinciding with the public consultation launched on 15 September - will gain a better understanding of the Act’s practical implications for suppliers and contracting authorities across all Member States. 

Public Procurement Act Regulation (09.09.26)

Press release (09.09.26)

Questions & answers (09.09.26)

Factsheet (09.09.26)

'Evaluating the Public Procurement Directives - towards a balanced reform?' Jugatx Ortiz González (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Séjourné) (27.11.25)