Compared to the opinions on the possible scope of a collective consideration of PPPs at EC level, the contributions on its form are less varied. The majority of contributions argue in favour of establishing a permanent PPP unit, which might take the form of a European PPP agency, a centre of excellence/resource and documentation centre or an observatory. At least for the observatory some contributors argue that it should be independent. One contributor recommends that a High Level Group should supervise and coordinate the work of the PPP unit.
A substantial number of other contributors vote for less institutionalised models, in particular arguing that a permanent structure would add to existing bureaucracy. Their preferred option is a Task Force. One stakeholder favours opening a dialogue between the Commission and interested parties. Another recommends building the collective consideration on existing fora such as the Advisory Committee for Public Works Contracts.18
One contributor stresses that any collective consideration of these issues needs to be transparent.
If a collective consideration of PPPs were to be established at EC level, the large majority of contributions leave no doubt that this would be the task of the European Commission. Some contributors state that a European Commission initiative could be limited to promoting successful national PPP networks.
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18 See Council Decision 71/306/EEC setting up an Advisory Committee for Public Works Contracts (OJ L 185, 16.8.1971, p.15).