Country overview

France's infrastructure procurement processes rank among the best in the world. In combination with strong financial markets and a regulatory framework that supports the creation of new businesses, this promotes competition among providers and helps bring better value for money and higher quality outcomes from investment.

Governance structure

France is a unitary state organised on a decentralised basis under the 1958 Constitution and has four main levels of sub-national government: metropoles, regions, departments, and municipalities, in addition to the National Government. The country operates under a civil law legal system. The national government is in charge of establishing sectoral programs, legal and regulatory frameworks, and policies for the main infrastructure areas (energy, transport, broadband, healthcare) as well as land-use planning and environmental policy. Furthermore, it plans and finances, directly or through state-owned enterprises, infrastructure projects of national importance such as motorways, railways, airports, ports, and nuclear and energy facilities. It also oversees public facilities such as universities, hospitals, social housing, and other public buildings. Metropoles, regions, departments, and municipalities have allocated competencies in delivering specific local infrastructure.