Committee of the Regions

The Committee of the Regions (CoR) is a political assembly of approximately 350 elected regional and local politicians from all 27 EU member states. It was established by the Maastricht Treaty in 1994 and gives subnational governments a formal voice in EU policymaking. Its opinions are advisory, not binding, but they carry weight in the legislative process because regional and local authorities are responsible for delivering a large share of public services and therefore award a significant proportion of Europe's public contracts.

What is the Committee of the Regions?

The CoR is consulted by the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council whenever legislative proposals affect regional or local competences. Procurement legislation falls squarely within this category because municipalities, regional authorities, and other sub-national bodies are major contracting authorities under Directives 2014/24/EU and 2014/25/EU.

Advisory opinions. When the Commission proposes revisions to the procurement directives or issues guidance affecting local contracting authorities, the CoR can issue a formal opinion. These opinions assess the impact of proposed rules on regional and local authorities, highlight practical implementation challenges, and may recommend amendments. While the Parliament and Council are not obliged to follow CoR opinions, they are required to consult the CoR and the opinions can influence the final legislative text.

Own procurement. The CoR is itself a small contracting authority. It procures services and goods necessary for its own operation, following the EU Financial Regulation.

Subsidiarity monitoring. The CoR monitors whether EU legislative proposals respect the principle of subsidiarity, meaning that decisions should be taken at the lowest effective level of government. In procurement, this has led the CoR to push back against proposals that it considers overly prescriptive, arguing that local contracting authorities need flexibility to adapt procurement to local conditions.

Cohesion policy interface. Many regional and local authorities manage EU structural funds and cohesion funding, which comes with mandatory procurement compliance requirements. The CoR advocates for procurement rules that are administratively workable for smaller authorities and for proportionate audit and correction regimes.

Why it matters for bidders

Regional and local contracting authorities across Europe are responsible for a large volume of contracts in areas such as social care, education, transport, waste management, utilities, and construction. The CoR's advocacy for workable procurement rules shapes the environment in which these authorities operate.

Suppliers who work primarily with regional or local buyers should be aware that these authorities face different administrative pressures than central government. Smaller authorities may benefit from simplified procedures, framework agreements, and joint procurement arrangements that the CoR has promoted. Understanding these tools helps suppliers structure bids appropriately.

The CoR's push for greater SME access and simpler procedures has supported measures such as mandatory lot division for large contracts and proportionate financial standing requirements, both of which are codified in Directive 2014/24/EU.

Example

During the 2021 Commission review of the public procurement framework, the CoR issued an opinion calling for clearer rules on strategic procurement (incorporating social, environmental, and innovation criteria), simpler procedures for small and medium-sized contracting authorities, and greater flexibility for in-house (Teckal) arrangements. Several of these recommendations were reflected in subsequent Commission guidance documents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Committee of the Regions have legislative power?

No. The CoR is a consultative body. It issues opinions and recommendations but cannot adopt or amend legislation. Legislative power rests with the European Parliament and the Council.

How does the CoR differ from the European Economic and Social Committee?

The European Economic and Social Committee represents civil society organisations including employers, trade unions, and professional associations. The CoR represents regional and local elected politicians. Both are advisory bodies consulted on procurement legislation, but they represent different constituencies and bring different perspectives.

Can regional and local authorities appeal to the CoR against procurement rules they find burdensome?

Indirectly. National associations of local authorities can raise concerns with their CoR members, who can then advocate for changes in CoR opinions or in direct dialogue with the Commission. However, the CoR is not a grievance-handling mechanism for individual authorities.