EU Buy European Push Put on Ice as Member State Divisions Stall Plan

Mace | 12th December 2025 | Brussels, Uncategorised

Berlaymont building (European Commission)

Deep splits among EU capitals force Brussels to delay its Buy European procurement push amid fears of protectionism and higher costs.

EU efforts to enshrine a Buy European preference in public procurement have been delayed as sharp divisions between member states emerged during recent policy discussions, forcing the European Commission to reschedule key draft legislation until January 2026. This pause follows resistance from a group of countries urging caution over how such criteria might affect competition, supply chains, and overall market openness. The Commission had intended to lay out detailed plans for a Buy European strategy this month as part of its Industrial Accelerator Act, aiming to channel more public contracts to goods and services produced within the European Union. Instead, Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné confirmed that the measure has been postponed until late January amid concerns from capitals that it would impose restrictive European preference provisions across the single market. Officials in Brussels and several member states have framed the Buy European idea in the context of intensified globa...

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