Measuring procurement performance in Europe

Purpose The European Commission has begun to measure procurement performance in countries belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA). Performance is understood in terms of practices designed to maximize value for money. The purpose of this paper is to report on the performance measurement system currently in use and what the European Commission's own data tell us about contemporary procurement practices in EEA countries. Design/methodology/approach Secondary data released by the European Commission is used to examine procurement performance across 30 EEA countries. Findings The best performing countries are from Scandinavia and the Benelux, along with Ireland, UK and Malta. Average performing countries include France and Germany. Below average performers include Italy, Spain and the former communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Originality/value The paper highlights significant performance gaps in public procurement between EEA countries.