Assembly adopts amendments to the Public Procurement Law

The Assembly adopted amendments to the Public Procurement Law during its 122nd session, introducing measures aimed at modernising procurement procedures, increasing transparency and competition, and making public spending more efficient and accountable, the Ministry of Finance said.

Main changes and aims

Lawmakers approved steps to promote use of the electronic market for low-value procurements and to encourage wider participation by economic operators. The package also makes mandatory the application of the criterion "best price-quality ratio" so that, when choosing the most advantageous offer, authorities assess quality and long-term justification alongside price.

The amendments expand the digitalisation of public procurement by broadening the remit of the Public Procurement Bureau to adopt modern digital tools and artificial intelligence solutions. According to the Ministry, this will enable more effective monitoring of procedures, timely identification of risks and prevention of potential abuses. The changes also create the legal basis for establishing web services and automatic data exchange with other institutions and relevant actors.

To increase openness, the law introduces an obligation to publish a notice of voluntary prior transparency in negotiated procedures without prior publication of a contract notice in the cases prescribed by law, providing greater insight for the public and for bidders while simplifying certain administrative steps.

Professionalisation of procurement staff is addressed through a system of continuous professional development for public procurement officials, replacing the previous model of periodic recertification by re-taking exams. The law also aligns monetary thresholds for applying the law with current economic conditions and rising costs, and revises the fees for complaint procedures while maintaining the principle of accessible and effective legal protection.

The Ministry emphasised that the adopted amendments are part of broader reform efforts to modernise the procurement system and align it with European standards under the Reform Agenda and the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, with the stated goal of greater transparency, stronger competition and more efficient management of public funds in the interest of institutions and citizens.

Photo: press material from the event