Water Europe has unveiled its latest position paper on Public Procurement, emphasizing its vital role in building a sustainable and resilient Europe. With public procurement accounting for 14% of the EU’s GDP, it has immense potential to drive positive change. However, to maximise its impact, we must shift away from conventional cost-focused models and adopt outcome-driven procurement that champions innovation, sustainability and water efficiency.
💧 Why is this important?
🔹 Nearly 50% of EU Structural & Investment Funds are spent through public procurement.
🔹 Smarter procurement can accelerate the adoption of water-smart solutions, boosting economic growth and environmental resilience.
🔹 However, challenges remain – complex regulations, barriers for SMEs, and administrative burdens must be addressed.
📢 Key recommendations from Water Europe:
✅ Prioritise non-price criteria to drive innovation in procurement.
✅ Clarify Buy European criteria in decision-making.
✅ Encourage public-private partnerships to scale transformative water solutions.
✅ Simplify SME participation to foster inclusivity and competitiveness.
✅ Develop agile procurement to streamline sanitation-related investments.
📖 Read the full Water Europe Position Paper here.
