The Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament remain firm in their priorities by not supporting the report on public procurement at today’s plenary session. The report fails to clearly call for mandatory social and sustainability criteria, which are key priorities for our Group.
The upcoming European Commission reform of the Public Procurement Directives represents a strategic opportunity to channel public funds towards socially responsible, green and innovative products and services for Europeans. Public procurement should also help create lead markets for EU companies in strategic sectors to enhance the EU’s strategic autonomy. Although the report rightly points out that relying only on price is inappropriate, it fails to provide concrete and ambitious proposals to achieve our social, environmental and strategic autonomy objectives.
Gaby Bischoff, S&D vice-president for sustainable economy and social Europe, said:
"It is unacceptable that public money continues to fuel wage dumping and exploitation. Due to the obstruction of conservatives and the far right, this report is not balanced, nor does it offer a sufficient solution to prioritise companies that provide good working conditions and decent pay. We want the billions of euros spent on public contracts to act as a booster for good jobs.
“When public money pays the bus driver, the canteen staff or the cleaner in your office, it must guarantee fair wages and decent working conditions. That is why we are calling for a bonus mechanism that gives priority to companies respecting collective agreements and creating quality jobs. We now expect the European Commission to take this on board in the upcoming update of the Public Procurement Directives – and to deliver for millions of workers across Europe who deserve fair pay and decent work.”
Pierre Jouvet, S&D shadow rapporteur on public procurement, said:
“Public procurement can and must become an instrument of Europe’s sovereignty and its social-ecological transition; this is our firm conviction at the S&D Group. We want every euro spent on public procurement to contribute to creating quality jobs in Europe, supporting our SMEs and industries, and strengthening our social model. That is the aim of our proposals in the context of updating the public procurement rules. But once again, the EPP and the far right have blocked our proposals for ambitious and progressive public procurement policies.
“Because this text fails to meet the crucial challenges facing Europe, we did not vote in favour of it. This vote sends a clear signal to the European Commission. Public procurement must become a genuine tool for social progress and sustainability. This means introducing mandatory social and environmental criteria. It also means prioritising European products and services in strategic sectors by establishing a true ‘European preference’. Now is the time to support European companies — and European workers.”
Note to editors
According to a survey published by UNI Europa(opens in a new tab), the vast majority of Europeans think that public authorities should promote good working conditions and collective bargaining in public procurement contracts.
