Implementing the EU Public Procurement Directives: Effectiveness of the European Commission and the Court of Justice of the European Union as anticorruption actors

This study on “Implementing the EU Public Procurement Directives: Effectiveness of the European Commission and the Court of Justice of the European Union as anticorruption actors” investigates the impact of all relevant European Commission reasoned opinions and Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) judgements on corruption risks in public procurement markets. By using a unique micro-level public procurement database consisting of over 2.8 million awarded contracts in 2009-2014 and a novel ‘objective’ indicator of corruption risk, the study identifies and compares the corruption risks before and after the implementation date of the CJEU opinions or judgements.

Given the central importance of public procurement for political corruption and government favouritism, extending the remedial powers of the European Commission and the Court of Justice of the European Union could further broader good governance goals.