MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Unfair competition from voluntary associations in tenders – E-000043/2025(ASW)

As a general principle, public procurement procedures are open to all legal or natural persons willing to provide services, works or supplies.

All bidders must be treated equally, regardless of their characteristics, including legal form, statutory goals, way of functioning or financing, and the use of voluntary staff.

Furthermore, EU public procurement rules allow public buyers to limit participation in a tender procedure to non-profit organisations only (CPV 85143000-3 Ambulance services)[1].

In the cases referred to, the public buyers involved did not decide to use this possibility.

• [1] Article 77 of Directive 2014/24 on public procurement.