Glossary and abbreviations

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PFI Private Finance Initiative: A recent contractual arrangement in the UK that is more flexible than PPPs (public-private partnerships). This framework contract was developed by the central government in consultation with the sector stakeholders. The PFI allows for considerable contractual flexibility between the public and private partners based on the principle that the risks and responsibilities are largely shouldered by the private partner.
PNSE Plan National de Santé Environnement: The French National Environmental Health Plan (PNSE) aims to provide a response to concerns regarding the short- and medium-term health consequences from exposure to certain pollutants in the environment.
Pollutant: There are two categories of pollutants:
- Primary: pollutants emitted directly by human activity or nature (sulfur dioxide, for example);
- Secondary: a pollutant resulting from the chemical interaction between primary pollutants in the atmosphere (ozone, for example).
Primary energy: All energy non-transformed and directly exploited products, such as crude oil, natural gas, biomass, solar energy, hydropower, wind power, geothermal energy and nuclear energy.
Public service outsourcing: Method for operating public services or services of a general interest, normally the responsibility of public authorities and of benefit to the local inhabitants who, in most cases, pay the service provider directly for the service. The service provider is responsible for the operation of the service and, when applicable, certain investments. Services operated in this way by Veolia mainly include household and non-hazardous waste collection, treatment and disposal; water distribution and wastewater treatment; energy production and distribution (heating and hot water); and public passenger transportation.
Public-Private Partnership (PPP): PPPs are based on a contract tailored to each local situation under which the local authority outsources certain tasks to a contractor while also setting goals to be reached. The authorities determine the service objectives for the private operator while retaining ownership of the assets and regulatory powers, unlike privatization which entails the transfer of ownership of the structures. Local authorities are increasingly resorting to PPPs for the management of their water services.