The value of public-private partnerships is also recognized internationally. Public-private partnerships have been used to a great extent outside of the United States, primarily in Europe. Though the United Kingdom currently implements the most partnerships, other countries such as Norway, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Ireland, Portugal, the Netherlands and Finland have also taken the international lead in implementing these programs.[122] Of all highly developed nations, the United States is among those in the earliest stages of public-private partnership implementation. This section examines examples of the value added by public-private partnerships used in other countries.
Obstacles still remain for those attempting to implement international public-private partnerships. In both Germany and Romania, public-private partnership proponents have stressed the need for legislative reform and the creation of a more flexible legal framework to encourage partnerships. Another obstacle has been unsatisfactory outcomes in limited public-private partnerships countries like Romania. The Romanian Ministry of Transport has stated that "the simple association between public authorities or public entities and private investors has led neither to major infrastructure upgrading nor to spectacular increase[s] in the quality of services delivered..."[123] Regardless, Romania points out that the "positive experience of other states has proved the viability of real public-private partnership."[124]