42 Extending the Scope of Public-Private Partnerships in France EPPPL 1|2009 I. The evolution of French legislation regarding contractual PPPs 1. The French legal framework prior to creating the partnership contract in 2004 Before the creation of partnership contracts, by special law (ordonnance) of 17 June 2004, public legal bodies (State and regional or local authorities) charged with missions of public interest and wishing to grant responsibil