EU law sets minimum harmonised rules for tenders whose monetary value exceeds a certain amount and which are presumed to be of cross-border interest. The European rules ensure that the award of contracts of higher value for the provision of public goods and services must be fair, equitable, transparent and non-discriminatory. For tenders of lower value however, national rules apply, which nevertheless have to respect general principles of EU law.
Thresholds for Defence Directive 2009/81/EC
Directive 2009/81/EC on the coordination of procedures for the award of certain works contracts, supply contracts and service contracts by contracting authorities or entities in the fields of defence and security.
- Works contracts: €5,538,000
- All supplies and services contracts: €443 000
Thresholds according to type of procurement under the 2014 directives on concessions, general procurement and utilities
Concessions Directive 2014/23/EU
Directive 2014/23/EU on the award of concession contracts.
- All works or services concessions: €5,538,000
Classical Directive 2014/24/EU
Directive 2014/24/EU on public procurement:
|
Central Government authorities |
Works contracts, subsidised works contracts |
€5,538,000 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
All services concerning social and other specific services listed in Annex XIV |
€750 000 |
||
|
All subsidised services |
€221 000 |
||
|
All other service contracts and all design contests |
€143 000 |
||
|
All supplies contracts awarded by contracting authorities not operating in the field of defence |
€143 000 |
||
|
Supplies contracts awarded by contracting authorities operating in the field of defence |
Concerning products listed in Annex III |
€143 000 |
|
|
Concerning other products |
€221 000 |
||
|
Sub-central contracting authorities |
Works contracts, subsidised works contracts |
€5,538,000 |
|
|
All services concerning social and other specific services listed in Annex XIV |
€750 000 |
||
|
All other service contracts, all design contests, subsidised service contracts, all supplies contracts |
€221 000 |
||
Utilities (Sectors) Directive 2014/25/EU
Directive 2014/25/EU on procurement by entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors:
- Works contracts: €5,538,000
- All services concerning social and other specific services listed in Annex XVII: €1,000,000
- All other service contracts, all design contests, all supplies contracts: €443 000
Which thresholds apply to which type of contract
|
Threshold / applicable to Directive |
€143 000 |
€221 000 |
€443 000 |
€750 000 |
€1,000,000 |
€5,538,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2009/81/EC Defence 2014/24/EU General Procurement 2014/25/EU Utilities |
All works contracts, all subsidised works contracts |
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|
2014/23/EU Concessions |
All works or services concessions |
|||||
|
2014/25/EU |
Services listed in Annex XVII |
|||||
|
2014/24/EU |
Services listed in Annex XIV |
|||||
|
2009/81/EC |
All supplies contracts, all service contracts, all design contests |
|||||
|
2014/25/EU |
All supplies contracts, all service contracts (except for services listed in Annex XVII), all design contests |
|||||
|
2014/24/EU |
All service contracts other than those listed in Annex XIV and awarded by central government authorities (cga), all design contests organised by cga; all supplies contracts awarded by cga not operating in the field of defence; supplies contracts concerning products listed in Annex III awarded by contracting authorities operating in the field of defence |
All subsidised services, all supplies contracts and all design contests awarded by sub-centrals contracting authorities (sc); all services other than those listed in Annex XIV awarded by sc; supplies contracts for products not listed in Annex III awarded by contracting authorities in the defence field |
Thresholds in currencies other than euro: Communication from the Commission on corresponding values of the thresholds in Directives 2014/23/EU, 2014/24/EU, 2014/25/EU and 2009/81/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council