Report: The Future of Sustainable Public Procurement – Legal Possibilities and Obligations (Main Conclusions of UU Meeting)

On 26 October 2023, the event 'The Future of Sustainable Public Procurement: Legal Possibilities and Obligations' took place at Utrecht University. It focused on the trajectory from legal possibilities to obligations for sustainable public procurement in the European Union. Further, the event aimed to examine how this shift towards green and social obligations within public procurement law can be understood and interpreted, the impact of these obligations on Dutch procurement practices, and, finally, to find answers on how public procurement law can effectively operate in the future, especially in the context of the fight against climate change and growing social inequality. 

Relevance for the entire European Union 
The event, attended by various perspectives, including policy, science, and legal practice, delved into this significant legal development. It also marked the launch of the book Mandatory Sustainability Requirements in EU Public Procurement Law: Reflections on a Paradigm Change (ed. by W.A. Janssen, R. Caranta). The brief report below provides a concise overview of the discussions during the event in an attempt to spur the debate and discussion throughout the European Union amongst all those involved in the public procurement world. It presents the main findings and conclusions.