As the European Union moves towards a more strategic approach to public procurement, the CE-PRINCE project is demonstrating how circular economy principles can be translated into practical procurement tools and business solutions. The European Commission’s ongoing review of EU public procurement rules places renewed attention on innovation, competitiveness, sustainability and better access to public contracts. One important direction is the potential of public authorities to act as first buyers of innovative solutions, helping create market demand rather than simply financing public investments. This approach is closely aligned with the objectives of CE-PRINCE, implemented under the Interreg Central Europe programme. Through capacity-building activities, stakeholder interviews, pilot actions and cooperation between public authorities and enterprises, CE-PRINCE is addressing a central challenge: how can public procurement create real market opportunities for circular products, services and business models?
The project contributes to this transition through two complementary approaches:
- Public procurement pilots (WP2): supporting the practical integration and testing of circular criteria in procurement procedures.
- Enterprise pilots (WP3): using the Circularity Audit methodology to assess companies’ circular performance, identify improvement opportunities and validate progress towards more circular business practices.
As CE-PRINCE approaches its final implementation phase, project partners are consolidating pilot results, assessing impacts and preparing recommendations that can support the wider uptake of circular procurement across Central Europe.
From project results to future EU procurement practices
The relevance of CE-PRINCE extends beyond its project lifetime. Its methodologies, pilot experiences and recommendations can provide practical input for public authorities, businesses and policymakers seeking to implement future procurement rules. The key message is clear: circular public procurement is not only an environmental instrument. It can also become a driver of innovation, industrial competitiveness and new market opportunities. On 14 October 2026, the upcoming EU Industry Talk on new public procurement rules will provide an opportunity to discuss the European Commission’s proposal and its implications for industry.
We invite CE-PRINCE partners, public procurers, business support organisations and enterprises to follow the discussion and reflect on how the project’s results can contribute to the next generation of European public procurement practices.
More information: EU Industry Talk – Event information and registration