Local development: Postponing partnership

Michał Borowski, the man in charge of the project to build a new National Stadium in Warsaw in time for the Euro 2012 soccer championships, has said that Poland's PPP legislation does not work properly and is delaying significant projects.

"I have spent many years in Warsaw and I have seen a lot of projects and [Poland's PPP legislation] does not work," said Borowski, a former chief architect for the capital.

Last week UEFA, European soccer's governing body, warned Poland that preparations for Euro 2012 must accelerate after falling behind schedule last year. The main worries include Poland's relatively small number of hotels, a lack of large airports, the slow construction of highways and poor cooperation between politicians and organizers.

Borowski said that current legislation on PPP is too complicated, drawing out projects that could be completed quicker with private investment. He said clearer, simpler legislation was necessary in order for such partnerships to be effective.

Experts agree that public-private partnerships are essential for completing large projects, such as those included in Poland's preparations for Euro 2012.

"In Germany 65 percent of public projects' costs are covered by private investors," said Aleksander Giertler, the chairman of the Polish Council of Tourism Chambers, during the "Three Cities, Three Rivers - Investments, Market Opportunities and Challenges" conference last week.

Borowski said that many private entities would be more than willing to cooperate on such projects, citing companies' enthusiasm to take part in investments in plots in the vicinity of the new National Stadium.

"There is enormous interest in these plots," said Borowski. He added that local governments' plans for the areas could come to fruition faster if private entities were invited to cooperate.