PM hopes EU open to Romania in public-private partnerships

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc Wednesday voiced hope that the European Union will display the same openness to Romania concerning public-private partnerships as it has in the past with other member states.

"All countries went for this instrument of public-private partnerships. It is true that Romania came later to this club," Boc said at a financial conference.

Boc told the conference that "the highly restrictive regime of Eurostat and other EU mechanisms" could slow the implementation of such projects in Romania.

Romania has a huge potential to develop investment projects under this instrument, Boc said, mentioning several motorway projects key to the modernization of Romania's infrastructure and economic development.

Bucharest officials unveiled last month a list of the first 20 big investment projects under public-private partnerships. The country decided to attract private investors not only to modernize its roads, but also to build hydro or even nuclear power plants.

Countries in central and eastern Europe are increasingly appreciating the potential of public-private partnerships for the rebuilding of their crumbling infrastructures.

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