BSA supports the EU’s ambition to strengthen resilience, security, and performance in public procurement. To meet these objectives, procurement rules must remain open, risk-based, and grounded in internationally recognized standards. Evidence from national sovereignty policies demonstrates that overly restrictive or “Made in Europe” requirements shrink competition, raise costs, reduce service quality, and delay digital transformation. Given Europe’s reliance on global supply chains and the importance of access to state-of-the-art cloud, AI, and cybersecurity tools, BSA believes that openness—not protectionism—is the most effective strategy to enhance Europe’s sovereignty.

Therefore, BSA calls for a balanced approach to public procurement that enhances European competitiveness while preserving a fair, open, and non-discriminatory procurement framework. We believe that Europe can secure true digital sovereignty in public procurement by embracing interoperability, building trust, and leading in global cooperation—not by turning inward and isolating itself from the world.

We detail our recommendations in eight concrete suggestions: (1) achieving EU digital sovereignty through standards, interoperability, and trust; (2) protecting innovation and achieving the Digital Decade goals by refraining from applying mandatory “Made in Europe” criteria; (3) relying on openness for Europe’s competitiveness; (4) maintaining access to state-of-the-art technology; (5) fostering supply chain resilience through diversification and clear standards; (6) encouraging competition and lowering costs for public buyers; (7) supporting digitalization and simplification efforts; and (8) upholding the EU’s international trade commitments.

Please see the attached document for our detailed position.