On 14 April 2026, our researcher Simona Brunnerová represented CELSI at the high-level European Public Procurement Summit in Brussels.

Every year, over €2 trillion in EU public spending flows to private contractors, yet procurement decisions remain overwhelmingly driven by the lowest price, fuelling a race to the bottom in wages and working conditions.

With EU procurement directive reforms on the horizon, the Summit brought together essential workers, responsible employers, policymakers, and civil society to make the case for collective bargaining as the cornerstone of socially responsible public procurement.

Simona took part in Breakout Panel 3: "Public procurement as a strategic tool: industrial policy and preparedness", where she joined an outstanding group of speakers:

🎙️ Alexander Franck, Deputy Director General, CoESS – Confederation of European Security Services 🎙️ Diego Dutto, National Director, Lega Coop Sociali & Member of the European Economic and Social Committee 🎙️ Klaus Heeger, Secretary General, CESI – European Confederation of Independent Trade Unions

The event was closed by László Andor, former EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, and Esther Lynch, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation.

🔗 More about the summit: https://www.uni-europa.org/news/ahead-of-eu-procurement-reform-unions-businesses-and-civil-society-join-forces-to-stop-a-race-to-the-bottom-in-public-contracts/

A big thank you to the organisers - UNI Europa and EFFAT - for bringing together such a diverse and high-level set of voices to shape the future of public procurement in Europe. 🙏

#PublicProcurement #CELSI #WorkingConditions #CollectiveBargaining #UNIEuropa #EFFAT