Water Europe has published its latest Position Paper on Public Procurement, urging a shift from traditional cost-driven procurement models toward more outcomes-focused strategies that promote innovation, sustainability, and water efficiency across Europe.
Public procurement accounts for 14% of the EU’s GDP and governs nearly 50% of EU Structural and Investment Funds, making it a key driver in shaping a resilient and sustainable future. However, current challenges—such as complex regulations, limited participation of SMEs, and administrative burdens—hinder its full potential.
To address these barriers, Water Europe outlines five key recommendations to transform public procurement into a catalyst for water-smart solutions:
✅ Prioritise non-price criteria to promote innovation in procurement strategies.
✅ Clarify ‘Buy European’ criteria to strengthen regional decision-making.
✅ Foster public-private partnerships for scaling transformative water solutions.
✅ Simplify processes for SMEs to ensure inclusivity and competitiveness.
✅ Develop agile frameworks for efficient public procurement in the sanitation sector.
By leveraging smart procurement, we can unlock powerful incentives for sustainable technologies, foster market innovation, and accelerate the transition to a Water-Smart Society.
Water Europe invites policymakers, stakeholders, and public authorities to read the full position paper and support the integration of these recommendations into future procurement practices.
Download the Position Paper here.
