Nieuwe EU-regels over concessies leiden niet tot privatisering, aldus EP (en)

New EU rules on how public authorities use private suppliers to run public services will not automatically lead to privatisation nor will they tell governments how public services should be provided or financed, according to Philippe Juvin i. The French member of the EPP group is responsible for steering the new legislation through Parliament and leading informal negotiations on it with the Council. We talked to the MEP about the how and why of the new rules.

Mr Juvin said that if authorities do decide to use private firms through so-called concession contracts, then the new EU rules will ensure more transparency, legal certainty and a level playing field.

Critics say the new rules will lead to the privatisation of public services, particularly in the water sector. What do you think?

This directive will not lead to the privatisation of the water sector or of any other service and this will be clearly stated in the text. The Commission and the Council both agree with that.

Those who bring up privatisation do so for political reasons. They do not want this directive and so in order to get rid of it, they claim it will lead to privatisation, but they know this is not true.

It's always the same story in Europe. When people want to sabotage new European legislation, they say it's too complicated, antidemocratic or claim it will lead to privatisation. It's always one of these three and this time, they have gone for privatisation.

Is there any contradiction between the citizens' initiative "Water is a human right" and the proposed EU directive on concessions?

I would have no problem signing this initiative, except for one very ambiguous point saying water should be excluded from the EU's internal market rules. If those rules are not applied, it would mean there was no competition and no transparency.

I agree that public authorities should stay in control [of public services] and that water is a public good, but that does not rule out temporary arrangements. With the concessions it is possible to do so, because authorities can decide on the duration and the conditions of the concession contracts and at the end of the contract they can take services back.

It's part of the debate to discuss whether water should be managed exclusively by public authorities. What's important is not what public authorities do themselves, but who remains in control.

This directive does not force public authorities to go for a specific way of managing public services, but if they do opt for concessions, then they can only do so for a limited period. That is the amendment inserted by the Parliament and the Council agrees with it.