Memo: Commissioner Michel Barnier welcomes agreement on new rules for the award of concession contracts

In December 2011, as announced in the Single Market Act, the European Commission adopted its proposal on the award of concession contracts. This proposal is part of an overall programme aiming at modernising public procurement in the European Union.

Concessions are partnerships between the public sector and mostly private companies, where the latter exclusively operate, maintain and carry out the development of infrastructure (ports, airports, parking garages, toll roads) or provide services of general economic interest (energy and waste disposal for example). Concessions are the most common form of Public Private Partnership (PPP).