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News
01.10.2008
PPP workshop, Skopje, Macedonia, 1st October 2008
On 1st October a workshop on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) was held in Skopje, involving 15 representatives of NGOs, trade unions and local authorities. The workshop was organised by CEE Bankwatch Network and its Macedonian member group Eko-Svest and aimed to present a critical overview of PPPs in public services as a counterbalance to the overwhelmingly positive impression often given by the consultants and think-tanks which usually carry out training on this topic for public officials.
The workshop commenced with participants introducing themselves and noting down their expectations, followed by an examination of the features of PPPs and an exchange of information on what kind of PPPs are planned in Macedonia. PPPs in Macedonia are at a very early stage, with no projects at an advanced stage, however there are a number of rumoured projects and semi-PPP projects.
The next session aimed at dispelling the myths about PPPs. Participants were already aware of a number of claims made in favour of PPPs, yet were almost completely unfamiliar with the potential problems caused by the cumulative impact of PPPs on public budgets. On the individual project level, concerns about the lack of competition in PPPs, as well as poor risk transfer and the effect on public services were outlined.
During the afternoon Bankwatch’s recommendations were presented on how to ensure transparent and good value for money PPPs from a public interest perspective, and participants discussed how to minimise the threat from poor value for money PPPs in Macedonia. They emphasised a need to pro-actively search for information early in the process and to adopt a watchdog role ensuring that public authorities get a fair deal in projects, which can only be assured through good planning and a high level of transparency at an early stage.
Most of the participants emphasised that they were quite surprised by what they heard at the workshop, since there is generally little discussion about the negative sides of PPPs in Macedonia. Ultimately it is for participants to make up their own minds whether PPPs can be implemented in a way that serves the public interest but at least they have now heard both sides of the story and can continue to communicate with one another and broaden their knowledge in the subject.