The Committee of the Regions held an exchange of views with Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné, focusing in particular on the role of public procurement in strengthening European competitiveness and supporting industry within the Single Market. Members stressed that the EU’s competitiveness agenda and simplification efforts must also take into account the realities faced by local and regional authorities, which are responsible for a large share of public procurement across Europe.
During the debate, several speakers underlined that current procedures are often complex, costly and difficult to implement for municipalities and regions. While social and sustainability objectives remain important, members emphasised that procurement rules should also support competitiveness, efficiency and access for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Carmen Kiefer, Member of Kuchl Municipal Council (Salzburg), speaking on behalf of the European People’s Party Group in the Committee of the Regions, welcomed the Commission’s focus on competitiveness and simplification but stressed that these efforts must also benefit local and regional authorities. “As the EPP, competitiveness and simplification are particularly important concerns for us. However, simplification must also apply to the local and regional level. In public procurement, we need to return to the basics: the most efficient use of taxpayers’ money. The focus should be on regulating how public money is spent, not prescribing what should be bought.”
Kiefer also called for simpler procedures, higher EU procurement thresholds and greater flexibility for SMEs, noting that many municipalities currently need to hire specialised procurement experts because procurement rules have become too complex.
Thomas Habermann, District Commissioner of Rhön-Grabfeld, also emphasised the need for procurement rules that strengthen Europe’s competitiveness while reflecting the practical realities of local administrations. “European industries need solid economic growth and stronger competitiveness within the Single Market. EU public procurement should become more predictable and better reflect local and regional realities, as current rules are often too complex and burdensome. Social and sustainability criteria remain important, but they should not create excessive bureaucratic burdens for businesses and public authorities.”
To address these challenges, Thomas Habermann took the floor also to explain the rationale for amendments tabled by close to 30 members of the European Committee of the Regions, from ten Member States for whom less burdensome rules especially for smaller municipalities, and greater attention to the need to adjust thresholds for inflation are essential.
Earlier today, the European Commission also presented the Industrial Acceleration Act (IAA), an initiative aimed at strengthening Europe’s industrial competitiveness and accelerating the decarbonisation of energy-intensive sectors. The proposal seeks to promote the production of clean technologies and strategic industrial components in Europe, notably through faster permitting procedures, support for strategic industrial projects and a stronger focus on “Made in Europe” production in public spending and industrial policy.