Eurocities

What the Commission proposes

The European Commission proposes a revision of EU public procurement rules through a new regulation that repeals the existing 2014 directives on public procurement, utilities, and concessions. The initiative aims to modernize and simplify rules, reduce administrative burdens, and enable preferences for European products in strategic sectors to secure supply chains and add EU value. It also amends multiple sector-specific regulations and directives containing procurement provisions to improve coherence and transparency. Furthermore, the proposal addresses high administrative burdens and legal uncertainty identified in previous evaluations regarding public buyers and businesses.

• Revises and replaces Directives 2014/23/EU, 2014/24/EU, and 2014/25/EU with a single Public Procurement Act regulation.
• Enables preference for European products in strategic sectors to ensure security of supply and EU added value.
• Aims to modernize and simplify rules, specifically considering EU start-ups and innovators.
• Amends various sector-specific regulations and directives that contain public procurement provisions.
• Addresses administrative burdens and legal uncertainty that currently affect public buyers and businesses, including SMEs.

Summary written by AI from the Commission's document.

Key passages on your topics

1. • Strategic sectors, without specifying particular ones • Personal protective equipment and healthcare • Steel, energy infrastructure, and construction, where demand certainty can accelerate decarbonisation and the circular economy • Key technologies such as AI, cloud, quantum, semiconductors, digital infrastructure and platforms, cybersecurity, defence, and space These respondents generally emphasized the importance of focusing on sectors that are critical to the EU's economic and technological development, as well as those that are essential for ensuring the EU's security and resilience. Overall, the comments suggest that the scope of Made in Europe provisions should be targeted and strategic, with a focus on promoting the EU's competitive advantages and protecting its critical interests.

   COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT..., page 317 (EN)

2. Overall, the comments suggest that the scope of Made in Europe provisions should be carefully considered to ensure that they support the EU's strategic interests and promote fair competition. For instance, one respondent stated that "Strategic sectors: technology, defence," should be subject to Made in Europe provisions, while another respondent suggested that "Only certain strategic sectors (Energy, Health, ICT, Transport)" should be included. EU companies and business associations EU companies and business associations suggested that Made in Europe provisions should apply to various strategic sectors, including those related to energy, defence, security, and critical infrastructure. Some respondents mentioned specific sectors, such as IT, telecoms, and cloud computing, while others emphasized the importance of

   COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT..., page 316 (EN)

3. • Proportionality The proposed revision respects the principle of proportionality, as set out in Article 5 TEU and follows what is adapted and necessary to achieve the objectives of ensuring a more efficient, transparent and coherent EU public procurement framework, completing the Union’s strategic objectives. The establishment of the EU digital ecosystem is necessary to reduce fragmentation, administrative burden and costs by mandating the interconnection of Member States’ eProcurement systems into a single integrated EU public procurement marketplace, thereby also reducing compliance costs and facilitating cross-border participation and enhancing overall market efficiency. The European preference provisions in sector-specific acts are necessary to respond to the new geopolitical imperatives, while fully respecting the Union’s international commitments.

   Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE..., page 8 (EN)

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What the Commission proposes

The European Commission is preparing a new EU Atlantic Maritime and Macro-regional Strategy to be adopted by June 2027, following a request from the European Council. Building on the existing Atlantic Maritime Strategy and Action Plan, the initiative aims to provide a broader, integrated territorial framework to address shared challenges and opportunities across the Atlantic region. It seeks to improve policy coordination, foster innovative solutions, strengthen multi-level governance, and increase the political weight of Atlantic priorities. The strategy targets the four EU Atlantic Member States and will be established through a non-legislative Communication without an impact assessment.

• Development of a new EU Atlantic Maritime and Macro-regional Strategy by June 2027.
• Builds on and integrates the Atlantic Maritime Strategy and the Atlantic Action Plan.
• Aims to improve policy coordination across EU, national, and regional levels and funding instruments.
• Restricted in scope to the four EU Atlantic Member States: France, Ireland, Portugal, and Spain.
• Will incorporate a monitoring framework integrated into the Commission's biennial reports on macro-regional strategies.
• Takes the form of a non-legislative Communication from the Commission without requiring an impact assessment.

What is asked: Respondents are asked to provide views on the Commission's understanding of the problem and possible solutions, and to share any relevant information they may have regarding the Atlantic maritime and macro-regional strategy initiative.

Summary written by AI from the Commission's document.

Key passages on your topics

1. Basis for EU action (legal basis and subsidiarity check) Legal basis The primary legal basis for this initiative is set out in Articles 174 and 175 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) detailing objectives that establish the EU’s role in strengthening economic, social and territorial cohesion and in reducing disparities between regions. The initiative is also consistent with the legal framework governing European Territorial Cooperation (under Interreg, a series of EU funding programmes to support cooperation).

   Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the..., page 2 (EN)

2. 2 • facilitating knowledge exchange and the transfer of good practices and solutions; • strengthening multi-level governance and stakeholder participation; • increasing the strategic visibility and political weight of Atlantic priorities in the European policy agenda. The initiative aims to provide a more joined up and integrated framework for cooperation. It will enable participating countries and regions to tackle common challenges and harness shared opportunities that support sustainable, resilient and inclusive development across the Atlantic region.

   Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the..., page 2 (EN)

3. Practical need for EU action The Atlantic region already benefits from numerous cooperation initiatives and EU funding programmes. However, the current mechanisms are often project-based and sector-specific, making it difficult to develop integrated responses to shared challenges. EU action is therefore needed to provide a practical framework for coordination broad enough to build synergies between existing policies, programmes and actors, while strengthening stakeholder participation, strategic coherence and the effectiveness of investments across the Atlantic region. The macro-regional approach would help transform existing channels of cooperation into a more integrated and long- term framework for sustainable, resilient and inclusive development of the Atlantic region. B.

   Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the..., page 2 (EN)

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