EU Proposes New Procurement Rules Favoring European Content

The European Commission has proposed a significant overhaul of the European Union's public procurement rules, aiming to empower national authorities to favor European suppliers and counter the economic influence of countries like China. The proposed legislation, unveiled on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, would introduce new tools for public buyers to prioritize bids with substantial European content, restrict certain tenders, or reject offers where less than half the value originates from the EU or designated partner countries. Public procurement across the EU is a substantial economic lever, valued at approximately €2 trillion to €2.6 trillion annually, representing about 15% of the bloc's GDP. The new framework seeks to shift the focus from price alone to a broader consideration of quality, social, environmental, and sovereignty criteria. Under the proposal, quality criteria would account for at least 30% of a bid's evaluation score, rising to 50% for labor-intensive contracts. This approach is intended to ensure that public money serves collective interests and supports European industry, reducing strategic dependencies.