Brussels, 04/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has launched a consultation on whether there is a need for Community legislation on public-private partnerships. In a Green Paper, it points out that European rules on public procurement include some grey areas on these partnerships that bring companies together with services of general interest: development of infrastructure or provision of public utility services in transport, public health, education, public security, waste management and water distribution.
"Public procurement" directives on some partnerships when they involve contracts or others when they involve certain concessions will not enter into the filed of application. A press statement explains that the Commission is therefore seeking to identify possible ambiguities and ensure that there is a legal framework that does not constitute a barrier to access for economic operators to the different forms of PPP. Consultation focuses on 1) the framing of private partner selection procedures, 2) the setting up of a "PPP" on the initiative of the private sector, 3) contractual structuring and possible amendments to the ongoing partnership contract, 4) sub contracting. Interested parties have until 30 July to make their position known. The Green Paper can be located on: (http: //europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/ppp ).