Outcome of the public consultation on the Public Procurement Directives

In March 2025, the European Commission closed a public consultation to evaluate the Public Procurement Directives. Receiving 733 responses (mainly from public authorities, businesses/business associations, and NGOs) the Commission has now published a Factual Summary report to analyse the feedback. The early analysis shows broad agreement that the Directives have not improved procedural simplicity, but that digitalisation and transparency are generally viewed positively. Regarding green procurement, there is some consensus (39%) that rules like quality assurance standards and environmental management standards are still adequate. However, the frequency of price-only based awards is considered too high by nearly half of all respondents (49%). That high frequency is considered by 37% to be a bad practice, while 29% believe that technical requirements can assure high quality – in particular, 56% of public authorities think so. Public authorities are also positive that the Directives encourage environmentally friendly (56%), socially responsible (55%), and innovative procurement (45%). However, all other actors are less certain about these outcomes, in particular businesses. 

Read more on our key recommendations for the revision of the EU Public Procurement Directives here.