New facts have emerged regarding the privatisation of the gas distribution company Slovenský Plynárenský Priemysel (SPP), it was announced on February 20. Fico, speaking after the cabinet meeting Wednesday in Bratislava, pointed out that the former government of Mikuláš Dzurinda (SDKÚ-DS) claimed that the SPP privatisation was an essential precondition to Slovakia's EU-accession process, the TASR wrote.
According to Fico, the transaction documents include a pricing regime that guaranteed that the gas prices for households would at least be as high in 2003 as they were in 2002(when the sale was carried out). He also revealed that due to an expert estimate, the SPP value was Sk52.2 billion (€1.57 billion) before the privatisation, while after the transaction it was worth Sk168.7 billion.
According to the inevitable measures resulting form situation, Economy Minister Ľubomír Jahnátek is to make public by March 31 all contracts signed on behalf of Slovakia, to ensure that Slovak legislation hasn't been violated. Jahnátek is also to submit all documents regarding the inquiry into the SPP privatisation to the General Prosecutor's Office and to the Supreme Control Office (NKÚ) Chairman. Jahnátek will also file a request with the relevant court to investigate the decision of the former government made on March 14, 2002. TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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