The selection process of the buyer of Slovakia’s emission quotas as well as the negotiations with potential partners and Interblue Group in 2008 was not handled in a professional way, according to a report drafted by the Environment Ministry and submitted to parliament on December 10, the TASR newswire wrote.
A total of 75 out of 77 MPs voted in favour of accepting the report, a motion which succeeded in its third attempt – as Parliament lacked a quorum during the first two votes.
During the tenure of former minister Ján Chrbet (SNS), the Environment Ministry argued that the emission quotas had to be sold in 2008 or they would expire. According to the report, however, these statements are of no substance at all. Likewise, the ‘firmly-fixed purchase price until 2010’ lacks any justification.
The report also says that the contract provides insufficient guarantees to Slovakia as seller of the surplus emission quotas. For that reason the Environment Ministry is recommending that the sale of emission quotas in 2009-2012 continue with a new contract or under different business conditions. TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
