An EU framework for the strategic use of public procurement

Buy Better to Build Better brings together forward-thinking stakeholders from industry, public authorities and civil society, under a shared commitment to mainstream public procurement as a core lever in driving decarbonisation, circularity and competitiveness—starting with the construction sector.

The current EU public procurement framework has not yet realised its potential to support the green and digital transition, strengthen competition, or deliver best value for taxpayers’ money. The low and uneven uptake of strategic public procurement across Member States fails to send a clear signal to the market, missing an opportunity to reward best performers while bridging the EU’s competitiveness and sustainability goals. A targeted intervention to make procurement more efficient is required.

In response to the public consultation, BBBB put forward 4 key recommendations: 

• Ensure a coherent legal architecture by preserving the distinction between horizontal and sector-specific rules;
• Prioritise value-based awarding over lowest-price; 
• Optimise procurement by reducing administrative burden, harmonising rules, and strengthening digital architecture; 
• Focus on strategic procurement efforts on sectors with the highest societal value.