ZAGREB, February 13 2019 – The chairman of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union’s (HDZ) parliamentary group, Branko Bačić, on Wednesday dismissed the opposition’s claims that the proposed amendments to the INA Privatisation Act favoured the Hungarian energy group MOL to facilitate INA’s privatisation, stressing that the purpose of the proposed amendments was to further protect national interests in the Croatian oil and gas company.
“There is not a single provision in this bill that reduces the influence and importance of government representatives and members of INA’s bodies. On the contrary, their influence and importance is strengthened. This position has been brought into accord with the EU’s acquis communautaire, which means that after the adoption of the bill there will be no reason any more for the European Commission to ask Croatia to change its actions in INA’s bodies,” Bačić said in response to questions from the press after a meeting of the HDZ group.
Bačić said that the proposed bill of amendments would ensure full protection of Croatia’s interests in INA with regard to oil supply and its relationship with the strategic partner. He noted that the proposed amendments did not give MOL any new position that could lead to changes in the relationship between the government and the strategic partner.
Asked why this bill was being considered under fast-track procedure, Bačić said that the bill had been talked about in public for years, that countless debates had been held in parliament and government meetings, and that all issues in that regard had been discussed.
Asked if the HDZ had the support of all coalition partners for amending the INA Privatisation Act, Bačić replied in the affirmative.
More news on the INA-MOL situation can be found in the Business section.
