EFFAT and FoodServiceEurope, representing workers and employers in the European contract catering sector, have launched a Joint Position on the Revision of the EU Public Procurement Directives.
The document was presented at a European Parliament event hosted by MEP Gabriele Bischoff (DE, S&D): “From the Lowest Price to Best Value in Contract Catering. The event gathered MEPS, trade unionists, companies and workers.
The sector employs over 600,000 people and serves 6 billion meals annually in schools, hospitals, retirement homes, public administrations, and other institutions.
Despite surging raw materials, energy, and labour costs, public contracts in the sector are too often awarded solely on the basis of the lowest price. This race to the bottom endangers service quality, workers’ rights, and the long-term sustainability of the industry.
The two organisations are urging the European Commission to use the revision of public procurement rules to make public procurement a true lever of sustainability, quality jobs and fair competition.
- Social conditionality: Public tenders should only be awarded to companies that respect workers’ and trade unions’ rights and apply collective bargaining agreements.
- Moving away from the lowest price principle to best value: It is time to end the race to the bottom and ban the awarding of contracts solely on price. Companies with a collective agreement should get priority.
- Revision of contracts: Allow for contract adjustments in case of unforeseen economic or regulatory changes that impact wage and non-wage related costs.
- Strategic use of public procurement: Leverage procurement as a tool to reinforce the social function of contract catering and to create quality jobs, limiting subcontracting and ensuring due diligence.
Enrico Somaglia, EFFAT General Secretary, said:
The Commission shouldn’t underestimate the strategic role of the sector EFFAT and FoodService Europe represent. For Millions of children across Europe the only warm meal they get every day is through contract cathering. The fact that meal is healthy, tasty, of high-quality and also produced in a socially and environmentally sustainable way should be a key priority of every government. A mission oriented strategy to create sustainable growth. But this can only be achieved with an ambitious revision. A revision that ensures public money are used for public goods and for a healthy society and planet.
Thomas Güther, President of FoodServiceEurope and Chief Growth Officer at Compass Group Middle East and Europe commented:
Public procurement must reward best value and strengthen resilient food systems Every day, our sector provides millions of healthy meals to children in schools, patients in hospitals, and communities across Europe. With the domination of the low-price consumers, workers, nor business are equally on the losing side.
With this joint initiative, the Social Partners reaffirm their commitment to shaping a procurement framework that delivers quality services, responsible business practices, and decent jobs across Europe. They will continue to work closely with the European Commission and allies in the European Parliament in the run-up to the publication of the revised Directive in 2026.
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All the event photos are available here: https://flic.kr/ps/3PECdL
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