ZAGREB, January 17th, 2018 – Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković told parliament during Question Time on Wednesday that he expected the European Commission to provide Zagreb very soon with its position on the government’s approval of a state guarantee for the Uljanik shipyard to help with its restructuring and financial consolidation.
Last Thursday the government authorised the Finance Ministry to issue a state guarantee in the amount of 96 million euro in favour of Croatian Postal Bank and/or some other commercial banks in the country and/or abroad for a credit commitment of the Pula-based Uljanik shipyard for the implementation of a restructuring process as well as financial consolidation of the company.
At the start of Question Time, Finance Minister Zdravko Marić said that Croatia was in intense talks with the European Commission about the planned state guarantee for the Uljanik shipyard.
Asked by Social Democrat lawmaker Pedja Grbin when the answer from Brussels could be expected, PM Plenkovic said he expected the Commission to send its opinion very soon and only after that could the government’s decision be implemented. He underlined that the Economy Ministry was in intense communication with the relevant EC directorate.
A combination of a state guarantee and selection of strategic partners could be Plan A and Plan B, Plenković told Grbin during Question Time after the Opposition lawmaker wanted to know what could be Plan B for Zagreb if the EC refused to give a go-ahead for the decision on the state guarantee.
The premier said his cabinet would care about the shipyard and its employees and that it was also listening to what the unions were saying.
The fact that the government has decided to give its approval for the state guarantee is “a clear message that we will do all we can to help save jobs and make Uljanik sustainable”, Plenković said.
