European Commission proposes Public Procurement Act with European preference

According to the rail industry association UNIFE, the proposed European preference would ensure that EU investment in rail projects also benefits European industry; the draft explicitly names the rail supply industry (recital 34), and UNIFE welcomes the planned minimum weighting of quality in awards. The association intends to work with the EU institutions to see the proposal become law.

On 9 September 2026 the European Commission presented a draft Public Procurement Act, introduced by Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné (responsible for prosperity and industrial strategy). The proposal is meant to streamline the hitherto complicated procurement rules, curb unfair competition and create a level playing field for the European rail supply industry, among other things through a European preference; the rail suppliers are explicitly named in the text (recital 34). The industry association UNIFE praises the draft, highlights the minimum weighting of quality in the award criteria as positive and wants to work towards its adoption. (LOK Report, 10 Sep 2026)