Procurement, Brussels readjusts EU thresholds for public contracts
Three regulations revise the limits for 2026-2027: there is a slight reduction
Key points
The European Commission has revised theCommunity thresholds for public contracts for the years 2026-2027. It has done so with three regulations (nos. 2150, 2151 and 2152) that have just been published in the Official Journal of the European Community and that affect works, services and supplies, design, concessions and special sectors.
L’applicazione
The thresholds set by the European directives indicate the scope of application of their rules. Below those limits, EU rules do not apply and, therefore, there is more room for the national legislator to simplify the procedures for the award ofcontracts, by providing for less fulfilment and controls. "This Directive," explains in fact Article 4 of Directive 2014/24/EU, also replicated by the other European directives on public contracts, "applies to contracts with an amount, net of value added tax, equal to or greater than the following thresholds.
The European directives dedicated to the different procurement sectors stipulate that every two years the European Commission will review the thresholds, which then enter into force as of the following 1 January. Thus, the thresholds for the years 2026 and 2027 will apply as of the first of January 2026.
The calculation that leads to identifying the Community thresholds is linked to the limits established in the World Trade Organisation's agreement on public procurement. Moreover, it depends on the average daily value of the euro in the twenty-four months preceding the revision (until the end of August). On the basis of these parameters, the Community limits are adjusted and inserted into the various directives and, then, in cascade, enter into the legislation of the various member states. In the case of Italy, within Decree 36 of 2023.
The new thresholds
In general, Brussels has provided for a slight lowering of the thresholds in the various areas governed by EU rules. Thus, there will be a little more room for gare. The threshold for public works goes down from EUR 5,538,000 to EUR 5,404,000. The threshold for public supply and service contracts (and for design services) awarded by central administrations goes down from EUR 143,000 to EUR 140,000. The threshold for public supply and service contracts awarded by sub-central administrations goes down from EUR 221,000 to EUR 216,000.
