Overview of public procurement systems in the Western Balkans

This paper provides a comprehensive assessment of procurement systems in the Western Balkans to identify trends and problems common to all administrations in the region. Drawing on the 2024 SIGMA Monitoring Reports, it reviews progress in aligning national frameworks with EU directives, highlights advances in digitalisation and transparency, and analyses persistent shortcomings. The report documents improvements in legal harmonisation, central procurement institutions, and review mechanisms, but stresses ongoing problems: low competition with frequent single-bid tenders, excessive reliance on lowest-price award criterion, weak contract management, and limited use of strategic procurement. It also underlines fragmented approaches to concessions and public-private partnerships, frequent exemptions for major infrastructure projects, and widespread distrust among businesses. Recommendations stress full legal harmonisation, expanded e-procurement, stronger appeals mechanisms, greater use of quality contract award criteria, and improved capacity-building across administrations.