Safeguarding openness and fair competition for a competitive Europe

Safeguarding openness and fair competition is essential to ensuring Europe’s digital leadership, particularly as public procurement becomes an increasingly influential lever in building a more prosperous, sustainable, and competitive continent. Technology-neutral ICT procurement stands at the heart of this conversation. It not only supports a competitive and innovative marketplace, but also helps guarantee that public administrations can access the most effective and secure digital solutions. With Europe’s public services deeply intertwined with global supply chains, particularly in the ICT sector, procurement choices carry heightened significance; broad or overly politicised approaches risk inadvertently reducing competition, limiting access to high-quality technologies, and undermining long-term competitiveness.

Against this backdrop, the evolving role of the Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) and related regulatory frameworks is transforming how Europe evaluates bids and selects suppliers. These developments raise pressing questions about how to maintain openness, fairness, and efficiency in public purchasing while safeguarding strategic interests and market integrity. Ensuring that procurement rules remain proportionate, transparent, and innovation-friendly will be critical for supporting a resilient and future-ready digital ecosystem.

This dinner-debate will convene policymakers, legal and regulatory experts, business leaders, and civil society representatives for a focused and pragmatic dialogue on these challenges. Together, participants will examine how Europe can uphold a level playing field, foster healthy competition, and promote technological excellence in the public sector towards a more competitive, secure, and forward-looking Europe.

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