ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

The European Cleaning and Facility Services Industry (EFCI) recently convened stakeholders from across Europe for a dedicated webinar on the ongoing review of the EU Public Procurement Directives. 

The session brought together industry leaders, national associations, and EU policy makers to exchange views on challenges, priorities and emerging best practices in public procurement for labour intensive services.

Opening the event, EFCI president Avril McCarthy stressed the significance of the European Commission’s revision process. With public procurement representing an estimated €2.6 trillion annually, she noted that the outcome of this review will have far reaching implications for both public authorities and service providers - particularly those operating in cleaning and facility management, where labour costs form the majority of service delivery.

Juliette Olivier, EFCI policy advisor, presented the association’s core recommendations for the revision. She outlined four key requests aimed at ensuring a more balanced and effective EU procurement framework:

1. Recognition of the specificities of labour intensive services, where workforce considerations directly impact quality and cost.

2. A better balance of award criteria, ensuring quality does not lose out to price only competition.

3. A mandatory minimum standard of feedback for all unsuccessful bidders, improving transparency and supporting SMEs.

4. Stronger EU level oversight, ensuring member states implement procurement practices that are transparent, fair and accountable.

National practices

The webinar also showcased national best practices. Andrea Simone Johannes (BIV, Germany) presented the Quality Matters strategy, a comprehensive initiative offering contracting authorities practical tools to conduct quality focused, legally compliant procurement procedures. From Italy, Lorenzo Soresina (Markas, speaking on behalf of ANIP) highlighted recent reforms in Italy’s Public Procurement Code. These include mandatory price revision clauses, prioritisation of the most economically advantageous tender for labour intensive services, and enhanced transparency through digitalisation measures.

An engaging discussion followed, featuring contributions from national associations as well as representatives of the European Commission’s DG GROW and DG EMPL. Participants underscored the common challenges faced across member states and reiterated the value of cooperation and knowledge sharing at the European level.

The event reaffirmed EFCI’s commitment to advocating for procurement rules that support high quality services, fair competition and decent working conditions. At the same time, EFCI aims to help public authorities navigate the complexities of procurement 
to achieve sustainable and resilient outcomes.

For more information contact: secretariat@efci.eu