NEWS ON OUR ACTIVITIES: Civil Society Organisations’ Group facilitates debate on future of public procurement

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On 4 November, the Civil Society Organisations’ Group of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) hosted an event organised by Legacoop, an association that brings together over 10 thousand cooperative enterprises in Italy, active in all Italian regions and in all economic sectors. The conference focused on the theme ‘The future of public procurement in Europe: Between simplification and sustainability’ and took place in the context of the United Nations’ International Year of Cooperatives.

Cillian Lohan, President of the Civil Society Organisations’ Group, and Diego Dutto, member of the Civil Society Organisations’ Group and National Director of Legacoopsociali,  opened the event together.

Mr Lohan said: public procurement can be the great multiplier for sustainability. Making it easier not only improves spending but also has an impact on whole supply chains.

Mr Dutto said: the EU’s new directives must strengthen the Social Economy by promoting smart and sustainable procurement. Contracts must reward quality, innovation and social impact – not the lowest price – and reserve at least 10% for integrating disadvantaged workers.

Subsequent debates involved different institutional and civil society representatives. They focused on the forthcoming revision of the European Public Procurement Directives and reform proposals to make public procurement fairer, more sustainable and consistent with the objectives of the European social economy. The closing panel saw contributions from, among others, Simone Gamberini (President, Legacoop), Juan Antonio Pedreño (President, Social Economy Europe), Rafael Mondelaers (Commission responsible for Public Procurement, Committee of the Regions), as well as MEPs Pierfrancesco Maran, Mariateresa Vivaldini and Nicola Zingaretti.

The conference concluded that the revision of the European Procurement Directives should enhance sustainability and local development.

Debate on future of public procurement

Read more about the Legacoop’s proposals for the revision of the Public Procurements Directives at: https://www.legacoop.coop/public-procurement-legacoop-la-revisione-delle-direttive-europee-metta-al-centro-sostenibilita-filiere-territoriali-e-valore-sociale/.

For more information on the EESC’s work in this sector, visit the EESC’s website at: https://www.eesc.europa.eu/en/our-work/opinions-information-reports/opinions