Developing PPP as an instrument becomes critical as the financial and economic crisis is taking its toll on the ability of the public purse to raise adequate financial means and allocate resources to important policies and specific projects. The interest of the public sector in innovative financing instruments has increased and so has the political readiness to create conditions for more efficient ways of delivering infrastructure projects, whether in the transport, social, energy or environmental sectors. On the other hand, the private sector's interest in pursuing PPPs could be limited by the prevailing regulatory framework and new economic constraints, as well as other longer established underlying factors such as limitations in the public sector's capacity to deliver PPP programmes in many parts of Europe. In order to ensure that PPPs continue to play a role in the longer term, in particular five key actions are indispensible in 2010:
● The Commission will set up a PPP group inviting relevant stakeholders to discuss their concerns and further ideas with regard to PPPs. Where appropriate, it will issue guidance assisting Member States in reducing the administrative burden and delays in the implementation of PPPs: in this context, it will explore ways to facilitate and to speed up the attribution of planning permits for PPP projects.
● The Commission will work with the EIB with a view to increasing the funding available for PPPs, by re-focussing existing Community instruments and by developing financial instruments for PPPs in the key policy areas.
● The Commission will review the relevant rules and practices in order to ensure that there is no discrimination in the allocation of public funds, where Community funding is involved, depending on the management of the project, be it private or public. It will make proposals for amendments, where appropriate.
● The Commission will propose a more effective framework for innovation, including the possibility for the EU to participate in private law bodies and directly invest in specific projects.
● The Commission will consider a proposal for a legislative instrument on concessions, based on the ongoing Impact Assessment.
The actions set out above aim at creating a supportive Community framework for PPPs designed to meet the needs of citizens, furthers Community goals through a prospective analysis and ensures that actual delivery meets these needs.