EU voices concern over NIS sale

The European Commission said Friday it was worried over Belgrade's intention to sell NIS to Russia's Gazprom. The Serbian oil monopoly, NIS, is slated to be privatized, with the government abandoning its original decision to sell a minority share of the public enterprise. EU voices concern over NIS sale At the end of 2007, Economy Minister Mladjan Dinkic confirmed for the media that Gazprom has offered a package deal that includes EUR 400mn for 51 percent of NIS, and the construction of a branch of the South Stream pipeline through Serbia. The BBC Friday quoted EU officials who said sale of NIS should be "open and transparent." "The commission hopes that the sale of an important asset such as the Serbian oil company will be open and driven by objective, commercial and economic interests," spokeswoman Krisztina Nagy was quoted. Some analysts have said the NIS sell-off to Moscow might be politically motivated, the BBC said, and quoted the commission sources who would not speculate on the reason for the deal, although they were "keen to stress that Belgrade should be prompted by objective interests." The negotiations between Gazprom and official Belgrade continue. The details of the deal will be made public, and will have to be confirmed by the parliament.

EU voices concern over NIS sale

At the end of 2007, Economy Minister Mlađan Dinkić confirmed for the media that Gazprom has offered a package deal that includes EUR 400mn for 51 percent of NIS, and the construction of a branch of the South Stream pipeline through Serbia.

The BBC Friday quoted EU officials who said sale of NIS should be "open and transparent."

"The commission hopes that the sale of an important asset such as the Serbian oil company will be open and driven by objective, commercial and economic interests," spokeswoman Krisztina Nagy was quoted.

Some analysts have said the NIS sell-off to Moscow might be politically motivated, the BBC said, and quoted the commission sources who would not speculate on the reason for the deal, although they were "keen to stress that Belgrade should be prompted by objective interests."

The negotiations between Gazprom and official Belgrade continue. The details of the deal will be made public, and will have to be confirmed by the parliament.