This online event will focus on overcoming legal barriers to circular procurement practices within the EU. Fear of audits, litigation, and non-compliance often leads to risk-averse behavior among contracting authorities, largely due to misconceptions about legal limitations rather than actual constraints. Although the EU Public Procurement Directive (2014/24/EU) offers significant flexibility to incorporate sustainability, Member States interpret and implement it differently, influencing how much "legal space" authorities feel they have.
The event will showcase best practices from various countries where these legal fears have been successfully addressed, highlighting practical strategies and legal interpretations that have enabled greater confidence in circular procurement. By bringing together legal experts and contracting authorities the event aims to clarify existing legal possibilities and inspire broader adoption of circular principles in public purchasing.
- -
- Online only
- Live streaming available
Practical information
- Where
- Online only
- When
- -
- Who should attend
- Public buyers, legal officers
- Website
- https://c-prone.acrplus.org/en/agenda/breaking-down-legal-uncertainties-to-circ…
- Submitted by
- European commission
- No
Description
One of the main barriers in adopting circular procurement practices is the fear of audits, litigation, and non-compliance with the legal frameworks. This often results in a highly risk-averse approach among contracting authorities which end up avoiding integrating circular economy principles into their purchasing decisions. However, many of these concerns stem from misconceptions about the legal constraints rather than actual limitations.
The EU public procurement directive (2014/24/EU) offers significant room to embed sustainability, and its interpretation and implementation differ across member states, influencing how contracting authorities perceive their legal space.
What best practices and examples do different member states have in breaking this barrier down? And how does the interpretation of the EU Public Procurement Directive differ between member states, causing difference in perceived legal space to apply circular procurement?
This online event aims to highlight best practices from different countries in overcoming legal fears surrounding circular procurement. It will also explore how the interpretation of the EU public procurement directive differs across member states, leading to varying levels of confidence in applying circular criteria. By bringing together legal experts and procurement professionals, the event seeks to provide clarity and practical strategies for unlocking the full potential of circular procurement within the existing legal framework.