French EU commissioner pushes 'Buy European' public procurement shift

EU industry commissioner Stéphane Séjourné is backing a draft overhaul of public procurement rules that would make it easier for governments and other public buyers to favor European suppliers, according to reporting published on July 9, 2026.

The reported plan would create a legal basis for a “Buy European” preference in major contracts, especially in strategic sectors such as infrastructure, transport and technology. It would not force public authorities to exclude Chinese firms outright. Instead, it would give them more room to prefer bids from the EU and from partner countries covered by trade agreements or World Trade Organization public procurement rules.

The European Commission is aiming to publish the proposal in September 2026, although the text could still change during internal negotiations before then.

The shift would mark another step away from the EU’s traditional price-first procurement approach and toward a framework that also weighs industrial security, supply-chain resilience and broader geopolitical goals.

How the idea has evolved

The concept is not new inside Brussels. In May 2025, FT reporting said Séjourné was already describing a “Buy European Act” style idea as part of a broader push for European economic autonomy.

The July 9 reporting suggests that discussion has moved from political signaling to a concrete draft overhaul under review inside the Commission.

That matters because public procurement is one of the EU’s largest spending channels. Even modest changes in the rules can affect how billions of euros in contracts are awarded across the bloc.

The reported draft would focus on strategic sectors where Brussels sees greater security stakes, including infrastructure, transport and technology. Utilities and other large contracts were also mentioned in the reporting.

Who would be covered

The draft would not amount to a blanket ban on foreign suppliers. Instead, it would allow European preference rules to be applied more flexibly in tenders where policymakers want to support local industry or reduce dependence on third-country providers.

According to the reporting, suppliers from the EU and from partner countries covered by trade agreements or WTO public procurement commitments would be eligible for preference treatment. That would leave Chinese firms and other non-covered suppliers at a disadvantage in some tenders, but not necessarily barred from all contracts.

The plan also includes carve-outs. Public authorities could still source from outside Europe where no suitable European alternative exists or where using a European preference would create disproportionate costs.

That structure is important. It means the proposal would expand discretion for public buyers without turning procurement into a blanket protectionist system.

Enforcement backdrop

The procurement debate is unfolding alongside a tougher Commission approach to foreign bidders in sensitive areas.

In April 2026, Spanish reporting said the Commission blocked CRRC Tangshan from participating in the Lisbon metro expansion after finding signs of unfair state subsidies. FT reporting linked that case to the wider debate over how Brussels should respond to heavily subsidized foreign competitors.

Taken together, the reported draft and the Lisbon case point to a broader shift in Brussels. The Commission appears more willing to use procurement and subsidy enforcement as tools of industrial policy, not just market access.

That is a significant change in tone for an institution that has traditionally tried to protect open competition while balancing trade commitments and single-market rules.

Policy stakes

Supporters of a “Buy European” shift argue that public procurement should do more than choose the lowest price. They want it to help secure supply chains, support strategic industries and reduce the EU’s dependence on external suppliers in critical sectors.

Critics are likely to see the same move as a drift toward protectionism. A stronger European preference could reduce opportunities for Chinese firms and other third-country bidders, while also creating friction with trade partners including the United States and China.

The proposal would also raise practical questions for member-state governments and public procurers. They would need to decide when a European preference is justified, how to assess cost differences and how to apply the new rules consistently across different sectors and tenders.

The Commission told the FT it would not comment on leaks, but said the upcoming Public Procurement Act is intended both to simplify procurement and to optimize public money around strategic objectives.

What happens next

The immediate milestone is the Commission’s expected proposal in September 2026. Until then, the main unknown is how much of the reported draft survives internal negotiation.

It is also unclear whether the final text will set sector-by-sector thresholds or instead create a broader legal framework that member states and public buyers can interpret more flexibly.

Member states, industry groups and trade partners are likely to scrutinize the plan closely once it is published, especially if it broadens European preference rules beyond current price-led practice.

For now, Séjourné’s push signals that Brussels is moving closer to making “Buy European” procurement a formal policy option rather than just a political slogan.