THE GOVERNMENT wants to strengthen the state’s position in electricity producer Slovenské Eletrárne (SE). Though Prime Minister Robert Fico says he has a plan for achieving this, he will wait to see whether Italian firm Enel will sell its 66-percent share in the company.
“If Enel decides to sell its share in Slovakia, we are ready to significantly strengthen the state’s position,” Fico said, as quoted by the SITA newswire.
He noted how after the change in ownership of the Slovenský Plynárenský Priemysel (SPP) gas utility, Slovakia strengthened its position in the firm.
Fico also slammed opposition deputies for their approach to strategic companies.
“People who literally passed around state property and put it into the hands of foreign owners are behaving like protectors,” Fico said, as quoted by SITA. “These people who talk about strategic companies should be silent. First of all, I would recommend that they go and look at how the French and German owners treated SPP, and how Italian company Enel behaves towards SE.”
SE is the biggest electricity producer in Slovakia. In April 2006, Enel became its majority shareholder, controlling 66-percent of the stock. The remaining 34 percent is owned by the National Property Fund, which is run under the Economy Ministry.
Source: SITA
Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
