European Commission discusses unified public procurement qualification

At an Academy Day event in Rome, experts and officials discussed the potential for a shared European qualification system for public procurement to reduce bureaucracy and overcome national barriers. The debate, which included EU Commission Executive Vice President Raffaele Fitto, centered on an academic study conducted by CQOP SOA in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University, Ghent University, and Politecnico di Torino.

The research explores creating a digital ecosystem based on the “once-only” principle to enhance cross-border competition. Three convergence scenarios were proposed: strengthened mutual recognition, a reusable passport system, or regulatory convergence overseen by a European supervisory authority.

A survey of approximately 700 certified Italian companies highlighted the need for reform, with 62% reporting significant difficulties operating in other EU member states and 73% viewing a European model inspired by the SOA architecture as strategic. Participants suggested that Italy’s existing certification system for tenders exceeding 150,000 euros, overseen by ANAC, could serve as a model for the broader European Union.