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.
Current thresholds
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: €5,382,000
- All supplies and services contracts: €431 000
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: €5,382,000
Classical Directive 2014/24/EU
Directive 2014/24/EU on public procurement:
Central Government authorities | Works contracts, subsidised works contracts | €5,382,000 | |
|---|---|---|---|
All services concerning social and other specific services listed in Annex XIV | €750 000 | ||
All subsidised services | €215 000 | ||
All other service contracts and all design contests | €140 000 | ||
All supplies contracts awarded by contracting authorities not operating in the field of defence | €140 000 | ||
Supplies contracts awarded by contracting authorities operating in the field of defence | Concerning products listed in Annex III | €140 000 | |
Concerning other products | €215 000 | ||
Sub-central contracting authorities | Works contracts, subsidised works contracts | €5,382,000 | |
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 | €215 000 | ||
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: €5,382,000
- 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: €431 000
Which thresholds apply to which type of contract
Threshold / applicable to Directive | €140 000 | €215 000 | €431 000 | €750 000 | €1,000,000 | €5,382,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009/81/EC Defence 2014/24/EU General Procurement 2014/25/EU Utilities | All works contracts, all subsidised works contracts | |||||
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 2021/C 457/01 on corresponding values of the thresholds of Directives 2014/23/EU, 2014/24/EU, 2014/25/EU and 2009/81/EC