Firstly, I would like to thank the Valencia Business Confederation (CEV) for the trust placed in me to chair this working group which, four months after its creation, can already put forward an initial assessment on its presence in Valencia. Many thanks to all its members, -Aguas de Valencia, Pavasal, Logitren, Hidraqua, Eulen, the Federation of Private Education Centers of Valencia and its province, the Economists Association of Valencia, the Bar Association of Valencia, the Provincial Association of Cleaning Services, the Business Association of Retirement Homes and Services for Elderly Dependant Persons, the Business Association of Pharmacists with Pharmacies in Valencia and Agricultores de la Vega-, for their work and commitment with their relationship with the public administration, so necessary and essential for the development and growth of our society.
I would especially like to thank the president of the Valencian Business Confederation, Salvador Navarro, for his courage in creating the first statewide Multisectoral Committee on Public-Private Cooperation and for valuing the role of the Valencian business landscape in modernizing and optimizing the management of public services that can benefit from our expertise.
I trust that public private partnerships will become a driving force for growth to attract investment and projects, acting as a meeting point between institutions to be able to join forces and not to create confrontation. Spain is a country with a long tradition in PPP and is an international leader in many sectors. Given the multitude of experiences, it is necessary to conduct a brief summary about PPP.
- Without PPPthe currentwelfare state could not be maintained, be it in size, qualityof servicesorservice level given toall citizens,due to our country’s budgetary limitations and our commitmentsto the European Union.
- PPPhas allowedpublic services to function normally in the face of problems withfinancing, investmentand job creation,against whichprivate initiativehas worked, sometimes at the expenseof sufferingin terms of fundingor other types ofsituations to helptomaintain investment, employment and the financingof public services.
- We need tofollow the exampleof the EU’s most advanced countriesthat have opted forPPPas a strategicelement forsocialand economic development.
- Let’s leave demagoguery outof public debatewhen talking aboutbasic public serviceswith objectiveoutcome dataunderPPPmodels.
- A stablelegal framework withclear operating rules that attractsinvestment, andtherefore,more jobs andbetter wellbeing should be Toovercome the crisisit is necessary togenerate trust,morebusinessesand entrepreneurs,and less bureaucracyand uncertainty,which justdelay overcomingthecrisis.
- The government’s role is crucial in planning, regulating, controlling, auditing and evaluating, to propel sound and viable projects.
- PPPis a strategicopportunity for interaction betweendifferent agentsto promotesound and viable projects that are attractive tothe general public, businessesand investors.
- PPP is soconsolidatedin today’s societythat the general public isoften not aware that the publicservices they consume oruse are provided bythe Administration througha private company.The focusmust be on the qualityof the servicemanaged andnot on whomanages it.
- TheValencian Communityshould use the European fundingmechanismsfor the implementation ofinvestment projects andthe provision of services. Specifically, it should proposeand participate in PPP projectsfinancedbythe EU.