Brussels, October 2012
UDITE and PRIMO have signed a partnership agreement for 2013 and 2014. Cooperation on administrative issues is necessary to provide the European network of municipal secretaries with practical solutions. Knowledge exchange and dialogue are crucial.
In Brussels, the Union des Dirigeants Territoriaux de l’Europe (UDITE, the European association of municipal secretaries), represented by its president Eulalio Ávila Cano, who is also president of COSITAL (Consejo General de Colegios Oficiales de Secretarios, Interventores y Tesoreros de Administración Local, the Spanish association of municipal secretaries, controllers, and financial managers), and the Public Risk Management Organisation (PRIMO) Europe, represented by John O’Dea (secretary general of PRIMO Europe and president of PRIMO Malta) and Jack Kruf (president of PRIMO Europe).
The collaboration will have a renewed focus: strengthening the administrative capacity of local government (enhanced public governance) in general and public-private partnerships in particular.
The financial crisis of 2008/2009 left deep scars in the management and control of large infrastructure projects. Many public-private partnerships lost their earning capacity and had to be discontinued. The recovery in recent years through innovation is taking shape, but it deserves a more decisive impetus.
A partnership with Risk Management Partners, represented by its director, Kaz Janowicz, supports the new focus. UDITE works specifically with Veolia Environnement.
The collaboration also aims to promote relations between the professional associations of municipal secretaries and chief executives of European local authorities, develop effective information exchange, share professional experiences, contribute to strengthening the role and functions of local authorities, and thereby contribute to the European Union.
Renewing partnerships
Eulalio Ávila Cano and Rainier D-Haussonville (Veolia Environnement): “Infrastructure investment needs in Europe are driven by consumer trends and expectations, climate and resource pressures, and the need to meet the requirements and objectives of an evolving European regulatory framework. It is paramount that the current economic circumstances and generalized public budgetary constraints do not affect the implementation and pace of those much-needed investments.
This requires optimizing public resources and innovation in areas central to the EU’s gestation towards a greener and resource-efficient economy, as underpinned by the Europe 2020 Strategy, whilst balancing the aspiration for high-quality public services with efficient and innovative delivery. This innovation is not only technological. Innovations in governance models, using innovative financial tools, and optimized risk management practices are equally needed. The need to promote partnership between public and private sectors to boost investments in local and regional infrastructure and services must remain a medium to long-term priority.
While many avenues can be pursued to reconcile social cohesion, economic attractiveness, and environmental constraints, Public-Private Partnerships provide an interesting solution to finance and manage equipment and services by private partners, thereby facilitating access to innovative technologies and performance-based services.”
The chairmen Eulalio Avila Cano (UDITE) and Jack Kruf (PRIMO) signed the contract in Brussels on 12 October 2012. They look forward to a fruitful European partnership.
PRIMO Res Publica 