Confirmation that the rules on public-private partnerships do not apply to local authorities

Decree-Law no. 170/2019 was published on 4 December and amends the Public Contracts Code and Decree‑Law no. 111/2012 of 23May, usually known as the Legal Framework of Public-private Partnerships (Regime Jurídico das Parcerias Público-Privadas or RJPPP).

The amendments to the Public Contracts Code may be deemed as minimal. However, sweeping changes have been made to the RJPPP and they reveal a clear intention on the part of the legislator to bring greater flexibility to the introduction of new PPPs. This may herald a new wave of investment.