The new Macedonian Concessions and Public-Private Partnerships Act: A Need for Further Improvement?

Abstract

Public-private partnership was not unknown in Macedonia prior to the adoption of the latest legislation on concessions and PPP in 2007. Many infrastructure and other public interest projects have been developed or tried in the form of concessions mainly at the state level over the past few years. The Concession and Other Forms of Public-Private Partnerships Act marks an important step towards stimulating more intensive use of public-private partnerships, particularly in developing infrastructure and public services at the local self-government level. One has to welcome the introduction of this very concept of the Public-Private Partnerships Act into the Macedonian legal system because it brings this form of financing local development closer to both public and private partners, and it makes the whole process of structuring and awarding PPP projects more transparent and clear. KEY WORDS: • public service delivery • public-private partnership • concession • Macedonia