Building economies that deliver sustainable and inclusive wellbeing (SIW) for people today, future generations, and the planet requires more than growth. It requires policy tools that translate social and gender equality goals into practice.
MERGE invites you to the first of six online Policy Labs (Jan–Jun 2026), which focuses on public procurement as a powerful lever to advance SIW, with a specific emphasis on socially responsible (SRPP) and gender-responsive public procurement (GRPP).
This Policy Lab will take place online, on 20th January 2026 at 9:30-12:30 (CET). The Zoomo link will be shared upon registration. Register here.
What to expect:
– Interactive discussions on key barriers and enabling factors for SRPP/GRPP
– Breakout sessions to share real-world challenges and experiences
– Insights from EU research and capacity-building initiatives
– Good practices that support uptake of SRPP and gender-sensitive approaches
– A co-creation exercise to formulate recommendations feeding into the European Commission’s call for evidence for the revision of the Public Procurement Directive
Who should join:
– National, regional, and local authorities working on or interested in public procurement
– European Commission representatives
– Experts from academia, civil society, and think tanks
Agenda:
9:30 — Introduction to MERGE and the Policy Lab Setting the scene: how public procurement contributes to wellbeing
- Valentina Caimi, European Policy Centre
- Warren Smith, Posterity Global
9:50 — Parallel break-out rooms. Introducing each other in small groups and discussing:
- What are the main barriers (for contracting authorities) to implement SRPP, including by ensuring social economy enterprises easier access to procurement?
- What are the main barriers (for contracting authorities) to implement GRPP?
- What are the enabling factors that facilitate the uptake/implementation of SRPP and foster the participation of social economy enterprises in procurement?
- What are the enabling factors that facilitate the uptake/implementation of GRPP?
10:10 — Panel session I: Socially responsible and gender sensitive public procurement: barriers and enabling factors
- Alexandra Yaghil, AEIDL (WeBuySocialEU project)
- Tünde Tátrai, Professor, Corvinus University of Budapest (SAPIENS Network)
- Mieke Frans, Province of Flemish Brabant (PROSECO Interreg project)
Q&A
10:45 — Coffee break
10:55 — Panel session II: Good practices of support structures and capacity building initiatives
- Benjamin Gueraud-Pinet, RTES and GIP Maximilien (FR)
- Audrey Bonabeu, RESECO (FR)
- Jean-François Herz, SAW-B (BE)
- Ander Bergara, Emakunde – Basque Institute for Women (ES)
Q&A
11:40 — Break-out group activity: Shaping policy recommendations to unleash the potential of SRPP and GRPP in view of the revision of the public procurement directive
3 break-out rooms on:
- SRPP
- GRPP
- Access to procurement by social economy enterprises
12:20 — Closing remarks, Lois Pimentel Iglesias, DG GROW
Join us!
Hosted by the European Policy Centre, this Policy Lab aims to turn shared expertise into actionable recommendations for more inclusive, gender-responsive, and wellbeing-driven public procurement.
Join us and help shape procurement policies that deliver wellbeing for all, and stay tuned for upcoming Policy Labs spanning multiple political domains of the EU.
