Andrej Kiska (source: Marek Mrvis, SITA)
On May 25, President Andrej Kiska vetoed and returned to parliament for repeat proceedings, an amendment to the Office for the Regulation of Network Industries (ÚRSO) Act, stating that the bill curbs the energy regulatory authority's independence.
Kiska objected to the fact that the amendment transfers powers to appoint and remove the ÚRSO chair from the president to the government, thereby making the body subject to political pressure, the TASR newswire reported.
In addition, Kiska also criticised changes regarding the Economy Ministry's and Environment Ministry's involvement in the ÚRSO 's pricemaking proceedings.
“These changes ... would significantly affect the office’s independence and decision-making processes on energy prices, a situation that is at direct variance with the harmonisation rules of the European Union directives,” stated Kiska, as quoted by TASR.
Describing the amendment as a wasted opportunity, Kiska said that the real problems with the ÚRSO are in fact related to a “wrongly formulated strategy, contradictory goals, conflicts of interest, nontransparent rules and poor supervision of regulated entities”.
