EU law sets minimum harmonised rules for tenders whose monetary value exceeds a certain amount and which are presumed to be of cross-border interest. The European rules ensure that the award of contracts of higher value for the provision of public goods and services must be fair, equitable, transparent and non-discriminatory. For tenders of lower value however, national rules apply, which nevertheless have to respect general principles of EU law.
Thresholds for Defence Directive 2009/81/EC
Directive 2009/81/EC on the coordination of procedures for the award of certain works contracts, supply contracts and service contracts by contracting authorities or entities in the fields of defence and security.
- Works contracts: €5 404 000
- All supplies and services contracts: €432 000
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/2487 of 2 December 2025 amending Directive 2009/81/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council in respect of the thresholds for supply, service and works contracts
Thresholds according to type of procurement under the 2014 directives on concessions, general procurement and utilities
Concessions Directive 2014/23/EU
Directive 2014/23/EU on the award of concession contracts.
- All works or services concessions: €5 404 000
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/2151 of 22 October 2025 amending Directive 2014/23/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council in respect of the thresholds for concessions for the years 2026-2027
Classical Directive 2014/24/EU
Directive 2014/24/EU on public procurement:
| Central Government authorities | Works contracts, subsidised works contracts | €5 404 000 | |
| All services concerning social and other specific services listed in Annex XIV | €750 000 | ||
| All subsidised services | €216 000 | ||
| All other service contracts and all design contests | €140 000 | ||
| All supplies contracts awarded by contracting authorities not operating in the field of defence | €140 000 | ||
| Supplies contracts awarded by contracting authorities operating in the field of defence | Concerning products listed in Annex III | €140 000 | |
| Concerning other products | €216 000 | ||
| Sub-central contracting authorities | Works contracts, subsidised works contracts | €5 404 000 | |
| All services concerning social and other specific services listed in Annex XIV | €750 000 | ||
| All other service contracts, all design contests, subsidised service contracts, all supplies contracts | €216 000 | ||
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/2152 of 22 October 2025 amending Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council in respect of the thresholds for public supply, service and works contracts, and design contests for the years 2026-2027
Utilities (Sectors) Directive 2014/25/EU
Directive 2014/25/EU on procurement by entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors:
- Works contracts: €5 404 000
- All services concerning social and other specific services listed in Annex XVII: €1 000 000
- All other service contracts, all design contests, all supplies contracts: €432 000
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/2150 of 22 October 2025 amending Directive 2014/25/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council in respect of the thresholds for supply, service and works contracts, and design contests for the years 2026-2027
Which thresholds apply to which type of contract
| Threshold / applicable to Directive | €140 000 | €216 000 | €432 000 | €750 000 | €1 000 000 | €5 404 000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009/81/EC Defence 2014/24/EU General Procurement 2014/25/EU Utilities | All works contracts, all subsidised works contracts | |||||
| 2014/23/EU Concessions | All works or services concessions | |||||
| 2014/25/EU | Services listed in Annex XVII | |||||
| 2014/24/EU | Services listed in Annex XIV | |||||
| 2009/81/EC | All supplies contracts, all service contracts, all design contests | |||||
| 2014/25/EU | All supplies contracts, all service contracts (except for services listed in Annex XVII), all design contests | |||||
| 2014/24/EU | All service contracts other than those listed in Annex XIV and awarded by central government authorities (cga), all design contests organised by cga; all supplies contracts awarded by cga not operating in the field of defence; supplies contracts concerning products listed in Annex III awarded by contracting authorities operating in the field of defence | All subsidised services, all supplies contracts and all design contests awarded by sub-centrals contracting authorities (sc); all services other than those listed in Annex XIV awarded by sc; supplies contracts for products not listed in Annex III awarded by contracting authorities in the defence field |
Thresholds in currencies other than euro: Communication from the Commission on corresponding values of the thresholds in Directives 2014/23/EU, 2014/24/EU, 2014/25/EU and 2009/81/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council for the years 2026-2027