Q:
A:
Public companies need speedy reforms
Belgrade,
22 March 2010
Deputy Prime Minister for EU integration Bozidar Djelic stated today that management of Serbian public companies must be synchronised with EU competition regulations before the end of 2011, which means they must be restructured and adjusted to the market model.
Dusan Bajatovic, Bozidar Djelic and Dusan Bajatovic
Author:
Tanjug
Speaking at a gathering on the restructuring and privatisation of public and utility companies, Djelic stressed that public companies in Serbia have accumulated a loss of around €4 billion from 2001 onwards, which is why this sector needs speedy reform.
He said that the loss amounted to €650 million in 2008 alone, while according to estimates, the situation was the same last year. Djelic noted that the state will remain the majority owner of the Serbian electric power industry EPS, while Telekom is ready to be privatised now that the landline phone market has been liberalised.
President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce Milos Bugarin said that the privatisation of public and utility companies should not be carried out at the expense of public interest.
He said that municipalities in Serbia should retain control over remote heating, landfills, water management, sewage and similar services.
Director of the Serbian gas industry Srbijagas Dusan Bajatovic said that before public companies are privatised, clear laws and strategies must be adopted and a system for assessing the results in the public sector established.
Bajatovic noted that Srbijagas must be restructured, adding that it should have three or four daughter companies, namely for system management, transportation, trade and accompanying services. He also advocated recapitalisation of Srbijagas with state support.
He said that the loss amounted to €650 million in 2008 alone, while according to estimates, the situation was the same last year. Djelic noted that the state will remain the majority owner of the Serbian electric power industry EPS, while Telekom is ready to be privatised now that the landline phone market has been liberalised.
President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce Milos Bugarin said that the privatisation of public and utility companies should not be carried out at the expense of public interest.
He said that municipalities in Serbia should retain control over remote heating, landfills, water management, sewage and similar services.
Director of the Serbian gas industry Srbijagas Dusan Bajatovic said that before public companies are privatised, clear laws and strategies must be adopted and a system for assessing the results in the public sector established.
Bajatovic noted that Srbijagas must be restructured, adding that it should have three or four daughter companies, namely for system management, transportation, trade and accompanying services. He also advocated recapitalisation of Srbijagas with state support.
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