Question

In your view, is a Community legislative initiative, designed to regulate the procedure for the award of concessions, desirable?

More generally, if you consider that the Commission needs to propose new legislative action, in your opinion are there objective grounds for such an act to cover all contractual PPPs, irrespective of whether these are designated as contracts or concessions, to make them subject to identical award arrangements?

Main views of stakeholders

•  A clear majority of stakeholders favour a Community initiative in the area of concessions. Views are divided on the form of such an initiative.

•  A Community initiative in this area should, above all, provide more clarity as regards the award procedure. However, there is broad agreement that public contracts or concessions should not be subject to identical award arrangements.

•  A key argument against any initiative on concessions is the perceived need for flexibility in award procedures.

•  Many stakeholders are in favour, but a slight majority are against a horizontal PPP initiative.