Commission stakeholder expert group on public procurement begins new mandate

21 January 2025 Policy and Governance, ACR+ News

ACR+ has been selected to join the European Commission Stakeholder Expert Group on Public Procurement, which will meet on 12 February to mark the start of its three-year mandate to support the upcoming revision of the EU Public Procurement Directives. This initiative aligns with the Political Guidelines for the European Commission 2024–2029, which emphasise the importance of public procurement in fostering innovation and creating lead markets for clean and strategic technologies. The group will play a crucial role in advising DG GROW on modernising procurement rules, ensuring security of supply, and facilitating access for EU start-ups and innovators.

Besides ACR+, the expert group also includes organisations representing a variety of sectors such as private companies (Veolia Environnement, SPRIND GmbH), trade and professional associations (European Trade Union Confederation, Legacoop from Italy) and NGOs (Swedwatch).

Tasked with assessing current policies, identifying emerging issues, and providing written contributions, the group will support the Commission in revising directives to prioritise European products in strategic sectors, streamline participation for innovators, and simplify procurement processes. This collaborative effort underscores the EU’s commitment to leveraging public procurement as a strategic tool for sustainability and innovation, ensuring it meets the challenges of a modern, competitive Europe.