PROSECO: Synthesis Study Report on Social Procurement Policies in Europe
How can public procurement generate stronger social impact?
As part of the PROSECO project, funded by Interreg Europe, the Synthesis Study Report has been released following extensive research carried out between June and September 2025. This is the first comparative analysis that provides a snapshot of the state of social procurement policies and practices across eight European regions.
The research—based on input from 111 survey respondents and 82 focus group participants—highlights a key finding: although the legal framework in all regions allows for the use of social criteria, only 15–25% of public authorities report applying them systematically in their tenders.
The report identifies four main barriers:
- limited availability of practical operational information;
- difficulties in translating political mandates into concrete procedures;
- limited internal resources;
- lack of institutional support structures.
- Despite these challenges, the document provides a strategic basis for the next phase of the project: the development of regional action plans aimed at spreading good practices, improving policy instruments, and fostering interregional cooperation.
In the coming years, PROSECO partners will continue working together to make public procurement a key driver of social innovation and sustainable transition.
