EU4PFM International Conference «Public Procurement Reform in Ukraine — On the Way to the EU» held in Kyiv
On 16 May, the EU4PFM Programme’s Procurement Component hosted the International Conference «Public Procurement Reform in Ukraine — On the Way to the EU» in Kyiv.
This marked the first large-scale event dedicated to public procurement reform organised in partnership with the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, and the most significant EU-led procurement event in the country in the past seven years.
The Conference served as a platform to assess the current state of public procurement reform and to outline next steps in the context of Ukraine’s path toward EU accession. It also addressed practical developments, emerging challenges, and the institutional capacity needed to sustain reform momentum.
Opening the event, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine, Andrii Teliupa, welcomed participants and highlighted: “The public procurement reform was one of the first systemic changes following the Revolution of Dignity. Since then, we have been consistently moving towards the creation of a full-fledged European model — with transparent rules, clear tools, and business trust. In 2024, more than 3.2 million contracts were concluded in the system, amounting to over UAH 888 billion, nearly 70% of which resulted from competitive procedures. In the first four months of 2025 alone, more than 1.2 million contracts worth UAH 444.4 billion have already been concluded. This indicates the growing scale of public procurement.
Ahead lies the adoption of a new version of the Law on Public Procurement and further integration with the European procurement system. This progress would not have been possible without close cooperation with our partners — primarily the European Commission and the EU4PFM Project. We are grateful for the expert support, joint decisions, and confidence in our ability to move forward,” said the Deputy Minister of Economy.
The Conference created an open forum for dialogue on the progress, innovations, and ongoing challenges facing Ukraine’s public procurement system during martial law. It also enabled interactive exchanges on EU best practices and their applicability in the Ukrainian context.
Eriks Mezalis, Team Leader of the EU4PFM Component 2 «Public Procurement», thanked partners and colleagues for the continued cooperation, stating: «This Conference is a great occasion to reflect on the progress we have made together since the start of 2024. Working shoulder by shoulder, we have achieved significant results, including two important legislative initiatives currently under consideration by Parliament — the new Public Procurement Law and amendments to the Laws on Concessions and Public-Private Partnership.
We have also begun work on defence procurement and held numerous capacity-building activities — from study visits and events on centralised purchasing to regional workshops for public purchasers. Our efforts to promote Ukrainian SMEs in the EU market and facilitate EU businesses’ access to Ukraine are well underway. Cooperation with oversight bodies has been essential, as has the exchange of best practices between the EU and Ukraine.
Importantly, we continue to invest in professionalising procurement. Authorised persons across Ukraine are the backbone of the system, and we must ensure they are equipped, supported, and empowered. I believe we have made strong strides in this area, and today’s gathering is a good opportunity to recognise and celebrate that progress.»
The Conference agenda covered a broad range of topics, including legislative reform, alignment with the EU acquis, procurement oversight mechanisms, and future policy directions.
The event brought together over 130 participants, including Members of the Verkhovna Rada, representatives of public authorities, regional and local government, civil society, and international organisations. Among them were procurement experts and senior officials from the European Commission and OECD/SIGMA, who contributed to discussions on best practices and international cooperation.
The Conference reaffirmed the joint dedication of Ukrainian institutions and international partners to fostering transparent, efficient, and EU-aligned public procurement. It highlighted that advancing reforms hinges on cooperation, expertise exchange, and sustained institutional support.
The EU4PFM Procurement Component remains a crucial supporter of Ukraine’s public procurement transformation, offering technical expertise, building institutional capacity, and aligning legislation and practices with the EU acquis. With Ukraine’s ongoing EU integration, public procurement stands as a cornerstone for strengthening governance, building trust, and unlocking economic opportunities.
