The revision, expected in late 2025, follows President von der Leyen’s announcement in 2024 to evaluate Directive 2014/24/EU. NSDPP calls for a shift from the “lowest price” criterion to the “Most Economically Advantageous Tender” (MEAT) as the default standard, ensuring public contracts deliver quality and align with social and environmental objectives.
 
Key demands include legally binding social criteria, robust mechanisms to exclude abnormally low tenders, and enhanced access for social economy actors, such as cooperatives. NSDPP emphasizes the need for mandatory compliance with labour laws, ILO standards, and collective agreements, alongside strengthened enforcement and accountability measures to combat tax evasion and social dumping.

The network highlights the vital role of public authorities in determining service delivery models, advocating against compulsory competitive tendering that could undermine public service provision. NSDPP urges the Commission to align procurement policies with EU environmental and climate goals, the Social Economy Action Plan, and international human rights standards to build a fairer and more sustainable future.