GREEN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT AND GREEN INVESTMENT IN THE EUROPEAN UNION: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF FRANCE AND SLOVAKIA

Abstract

This paper analyzes Green Public Procurement (GPP) as a strategic instrument of sustainable development in the European Union, with a comparative focus on France and Slovakia. It examines how environmental criteria are integrated into public procurement systems and how these processes contribute to green investment and market transformation. Using a qualitative comparative case study methodology, the research highlights differences in regulatory frameworks, institutional capacities, and implementation practices. France represents an advanced model characterized by strong legal obligations and rapid policy diffusion, while Slovakia demonstrates a transitional approach driven by local initiatives but constrained by systemic barriers. The findings suggest that the effectiveness of GPP depends not only on legislative frameworks but also on administrative capacity, professional expertise, and coordination mechanisms. The study contributes to the understanding of GPP as a key policy tool linking public expenditure with environmental objectives and sustainable economic transformation.proposes legislative and policy reforms aimed at strengthening the integration of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles into the Slovak public procurement framework. The proposed amendments are aligned with the European Green Deal, Regulation (EU) 2024/3005 on ESG ratings, and the broader objectives of sustainable public procurement within the European Union. The study emphasizes the role of ESG certification, green evaluation criteria, life-cycle costing, digital product passports, and mandatory sustainability indicators in increasing transparency, reducing greenwashing, and improving the environmental performance of public expenditure. The analysis further demonstrates that municipalities and regional governments can become strategic actors of ecological transformation by transitioning from the procurement of the cheapest products toward the procurement of solutions with the lowest environmental impact.