procurement thresholds - procure-project/EU-Contract-Hub GitHub Wiki
Value Thresholds Guide
Overview
EU procurement thresholds are monetary values that determine whether a public contract must follow the full EU procurement procedures. These thresholds are set to ensure that contracts of significant value are open to EU-wide competition, promoting the single market.
Thresholds are updated every two years to reflect exchange rate fluctuations, as they are set in Special Drawing Rights (SDRs).
Current EU Thresholds (2022-2023)
The thresholds below apply from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2023.
Public Sector (Directive 2014/24/EU)
| Contract Type | Central Government | Sub-Central Authorities |
|---|---|---|
| Works Contracts | €5,382,000 | €5,382,000 |
| Supply & Service Contracts | €140,000 | €215,000 |
| Social & Specific Services | €750,000 | €750,000 |
| Design Contests | €140,000 | €215,000 |
Utilities Sector (Directive 2014/25/EU)
| Contract Type | All Contracting Entities |
|---|---|
| Works Contracts | €5,382,000 |
| Supply & Service Contracts | €431,000 |
| Social & Specific Services | €1,000,000 |
| Design Contests | €431,000 |
Concessions (Directive 2014/23/EU)
| Contract Type | All Contracting Authorities |
|---|---|
| Works & Service Concessions | €5,382,000 |
Defence & Security (Directive 2009/81/EC)
| Contract Type | All Contracting Authorities |
|---|---|
| Works Contracts | €5,382,000 |
| Supply & Service Contracts | €431,000 |
Threshold Application
Determining the Applicable Threshold
The applicable threshold depends on:
- Type of contracting authority (central government, sub-central authority, utility)
- Nature of the contract (works, supplies, services)
- Specific sector or service type (standard, social, defence)
Example: A municipal authority (sub-central) procuring IT services (standard services) would apply the €215,000 threshold. If the estimated contract value is €250,000, full EU procurement procedures must be followed.
Calculation of Contract Value
Proper estimation of contract value is essential for determining threshold applicability.
Key principles:
- Total estimated value excluding VAT
- Must include all options and renewals
- Cannot be artificially split to avoid thresholds
- Must include all lots if contract is divided
- For recurring contracts, use either:
- Total value during 12 months, or
- Total value during the contract term (up to 48 months)
National Thresholds
While EU thresholds apply to all member states, national legislation sets different thresholds for contracts below EU values. Member states vary significantly in their approach to national thresholds and transparency requirements.
EU-Wide Summary of National Practices
Transparency regimes across member states:
-
Zero threshold countries (all data published regardless of value):
- Spain, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovakia
-
Countries using EU thresholds only (no additional national thresholds):
- Denmark, Netherlands
-
Countries with low national thresholds (≤ €50,000):
- Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovenia
-
Contract registers are legally enforced in 88% of Member States
-
50% use interoperability with other systems
-
19% apply sanctions if data is not registered
National Thresholds by Country
The table below provides an overview of national thresholds for goods, services, and public works contracts.
| Country | Goods (€) | Services (€) | Public Works (€) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 50,000 | 50,000 | 50,000 | Legal requirement + sanctions |
| Belgium | 30,000 | 30,000 | 30,000 | Legal requirement |
| Bulgaria | 15,339 | 15,339 | 25,565 | Expected to increase |
| Cyprus | 2,000 | 5,000 | 2,000 | No legal enforcement |
| Czechia | ~2,000 | ~2,000 | ~2,000 | CZK 50,000 |
| Germany | 25,000 | 25,000 | 25,000 | Data collected for statistical purposes |
| Denmark | EU threshold | EU threshold | EU threshold | Only EU-level tenders |
| Estonia | 30,000 | 30,000 | 60,000 | Mandatory register |
| Greece | 2,500 | 2,500 | 2,500 | Legal requirement + workflow |
| Spain | 0 | 0 | 0 | Fully open transparency |
| Finland | 60,000 | 60,000 | 150,000 | Central government invoices only |
| France | 0 | 0 | 0 | Mandatory "essential data" above €90k (to drop to €40k) |
| Croatia | 2,650 | 2,650 | 2,650 | Fully integrated system |
| Hungary | 38,682 | 38,682 | 128,940 | ~15m HUF, 50m HUF |
| Ireland | 50,000 | 50,000 | 200,000 | FOI rules apply |
| Italy | 0 | 0 | 0 | Legal requirement + sanctions |
| Latvia | 10,000 | 10,000 | 20,000 | Various laws apply |
| Lithuania | 0 | 0 | 0 | Must register before payment |
| Luxembourg | 0 | 0 | 0 | Mandatory eInvoicing |
| Netherlands | EU threshold | EU threshold | EU threshold | TED integrated |
| Poland | ~29,190 | ~29,190 | ~29,190 | 130,000 PLN |
| Portugal | 0 | 0 | 0 | Legal requirement |
| Romania | 40,000 | 40,000 | 112,000 | Legal and integrated system |
| Slovakia | 0 | 0 | 0 | Legal requirement |
| Slovenia | 40,000 | 40,000 | 80,000 | Legal requirement |
| Sweden | ~60,589 | ~60,589 | ~60,589 | 700,000 SEK |
Example: A public authority in Spain must publish information about all contracts regardless of value, while in the Netherlands only contracts that meet EU thresholds are published.
Below-Threshold Procurement
Contracts below EU thresholds are not subject to the full EU procurement directives but must still comply with:
- Treaty principles (transparency, equal treatment, non-discrimination)
- National procurement rules
- Internal organizational procedures
Many Member States have specific national thresholds for different levels of competition:
- Direct award (very low value)
- Simplified procedure (medium value)
- National procedure (higher value but below EU thresholds)
Special Threshold Rules
Mixed Contracts
For contracts comprising multiple types (works, supplies, services):
- If parts are separable, thresholds apply to each part
- If parts are not separable, threshold depends on the main subject
- If one part is covered by the directive and exceeds its threshold, the entire contract follows the directive
Lots
When a contract is divided into lots:
- Total value of all lots determines if threshold is exceeded
- Small lots exemption: Lots below €80,000 (supplies/services) or €1 million (works) can be awarded without following the directive, provided their combined value doesn't exceed 20% of the aggregate value
Framework Agreements & Dynamic Purchasing Systems
- Value is the maximum estimated value of all contracts envisaged during the total duration
Impact of Exceeding Thresholds
When a procurement exceeds the relevant threshold:
- Required: Publication in the Official Journal of the EU (OJEU)
- Required: Use of standard EU forms and procedures
- Required: Compliance with minimum time limits
- Required: Application of detailed procedural rules
- Required: Use of European Single Procurement Document
References and Resources
For the most up-to-date information on EU procurement thresholds, consult these official resources:
Note: Thresholds are updated every two years. Always check the European Commission website for the most current values.