1. Global Forum on Law, Justice and Development
TWG “Law and the Economy” Dec. 13th, 2012
Instruments and Tools of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Ensuring the Foundations of an Equal and Effective Access to Infrastructure
Bertrand du Marais
Conseiller d’État secunded as Public Law Professor, Université of Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense
Co-Chair, Master Program in Law and Economics,
Chairman, FIDES bertrand.du_marais[at]u-paris10.fr
bertrand.du_marais(at]u-paris10.fr

2. Introduction: definitions and caveats
bertrand.du_marais(at]u-paris10.fr

3. I- Main features of Contractual PPP Schemes: Wide scope of services and of public agencies (central as well as local government): e.g. France
Contribution of PPP to the delivery of main local public utilities. Ref.: bureau de l’analyse des secteurs professionnels, DAEI, Min of Civil works (Dark area: PPP).
bertrand.du_marais(at]u-paris10.fr

4. At the EU level : ref.: Les partenariats public /privé en Europe, numéro spécial, Les dossiers européens, 13, Janvier 2008, p. 14 et p. 21
bertrand.du_marais(at]u-paris10.fr

5. I- Main features of Contractual PPP Schemes, as compared to divestiture
The advantages of contracts (as compared to divestiture or privatization per se)
Securing assets ownership in favor of the public agencies
flexibility, if not resilience…
Arbitration and / or Court adjudication
Decentralized yet governmental supervision and ownership
bertrand.du_marais(at]u-paris10.fr

6. PFI scheme: a contractual matrix
I- Main features of Contractual PPP Schemes: The advantages of a global contract
Traditional concession scheme: a multipurpose contract
PFI scheme: a contractual matrix
bertrand.du_marais(at]u-paris10.fr

7. In France, no “concession law” but
I- Main features of Contractual PPP Schemes: contracts within the overall framework of public law
In France, no “concession law” but
Some legislative statutes (e.g. Loi du 29 janvier 1993 “Sapin” for bidding process; Ord. 17 jun 2004 for CP)
The century old case law of the Conseil d’Etat
In many countries: a “concession law”
Equal access, due to
the enforcement of public law and the “public service” doctrine: equality principle
Solidarity between consumers
Social tariffs, social rights
bertrand.du_marais(at]u-paris10.fr

8. PPPs as tool for a better management of public utilities:
I- Main features of Contractual PPP Schemes (as compared to direct provision of services)
PPPs as tool for a better management of public utilities:
More transparent to the extent that costs are identified
Put more pressure on the utility in terms of quality and accountability
bertrand.du_marais(at]u-paris10.fr

9. I- Main features of Contractual PPP Schemes: Recent evolutions in the realm of contractual PPPs
Hybridizing of contractual schemes: a range of contracts as regard the nature of risks (of construction, of readiness, commercial, operational) (Ref.: IGD.org)
Innovation in tariff setting
bertrand.du_marais(at]u-paris10.fr

10. II- Conditions of success: general
Competition award: the experience of EU and French Law
Strong public commitment and supervision : several approaches:
centralized or decentralized at the operational level,
… or for the regulatory tasks
bertrand.du_marais(at]u-paris10.fr

11. II Conditions of success: balance between financial sustainability and social inclusion
Sharing the burden of poverty between the operator and the public agency:
“Social charter”, including “reduced social services”
“Social tariff” with compensation for the operator
Progressive tariff
Subsidies from the public agency to the consumer
bertrand.du_marais(at]u-paris10.fr

12. Two specific case-studies and analyses:
Conclusion
Two specific case-studies and analyses:
Senegalaise des Eaux: in a difficult sector and a fragile country
Columbia: local decentralization with national supervision
Towards a community of practice ?
bertrand.du_marais(at]u-paris10.fr