Proposals by the European Commission to overhaul the EU’s public procurement framework have been welcomed by Copa and Cogeca, the twin apexes for European farmers and their co-operatives.
The apexes, which last year took a critical line on EU budget plans and have this year voiced concern over trade deals, say the plan marks a “potential shift in how Europe uses public spending, notably for food”.
They add: “For farmers and agri co-operatives, this reform could provide a concrete way to strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy and ensure that European taxpayers’ money supports Europe’s own production capacity, after years of procurement practices focused primarily on the lowest price.”
For more than a decade, EU public procurement has operated largely under the framework established by the 2014 directives, a press release from Copa and Cogeca notes.
But while this helped to establish common procedures and promote competition across the Single Market, the apexes say the context in which they were designed has changed.
Related: Cogeca sounds the alarm for Europe’s agri co-ops
“Europe’s new geopolitical and economic reality required a clear change of doctrine,” they warn. “Europe is confronted with geopolitical instability, disrupted supply chains, growing strategic dependencies and intense global competition.
“At the same time, the EU is rightly seeking to strengthen its competitiveness and strategic autonomy. Public procurement, which represents a significant share of economic activity, can no longer be viewed solely as an administrative process aimed at securing the lowest-cost goods and services.”
This, they argue, is especially true for food, with large amounts procured by public authorities for schools, hospitals, care homes, public institutions and other facilities.
This means the state has “an important role to play in maintaining a resilient European food production base,” say Copa and Cogeca. “At a time when our farms and co-operatives are being asked to lead by example at every level, the growing disconnect with outdated public procurement rules has become increasingly difficult to justify.”
Now the European Commission has suggested specific provisions on food procurement.
“The explicit recognition of the need for fair remuneration for farmers is particularly important,” say Copa and Cogeca, who have also welcomed “stronger recognition of quality schemes, geographical indications and organic production, alongside animal welfare requirements. These provisions can help ensure that public procurement better supports local European agricultural and food products, while delivering greater value for public authorities and citizens.”
They add: “While some elements of the proposal presented today still require further clarification, Copa and Cogeca hope that the European Parliament and the Council will seize the opportunity to strengthen and further refine this important text for the agricultural sector. In doing so, they must preserve the flexibility and transparency that public authorities need to make coherent and effective agri-food procurement decisions.”
