In the letter, APE calls on the European Commission to address a longstanding inconsistency affecting the water sector: sanitation-only operators remain subject to different procurement rules than drinking water operators, despite carrying out comparable activities under similar market conditions and being recognised as critical entities.

Aligning the procurement regime for wastewater operators would create a more coherent framework, ensure a level playing field across the sector, and better support utilities in delivering on the ambitious objectives of the revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive.

Read our full position paper on the revision of the EU Public Procurement Directives, here, to discover all of APE's recommendations for a procurement framework that is fit for the challenges facing Europe's public water operators.

Read APE's full letter here.