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Economics Minister Andrej Vizjak has suggested that Slovenia may adopt a harder line to Croatia's efforts to join the EU in response to the arbitration motion that Croatia filed against Slovenia over undelivered electricity from the Nuclear Power Plant Krsko (NEK) Economics Minister Andrej Vizjak has suggested that Slovenia may adopt a harder line to Croatia's efforts to join the EU in response to the arbitration motion that Croatia filed against Slovenia over undelivered electricity from the Nuclear Power Plant Krsko (NEK).
Speaking to the press on Monday, 14 November in Bostanj after the launch of the first turbine at the Hydro Plant Bostanj, Vizjak said that Croatia's claims regarding NEK are completely baseless.
The Slovenia side will put together its case, while one can expect a more firm response by Slovenia, including in regards to its backing for Croatia's bid to join the EU in the coming months, Vizjak said.
He added that Slovenia nevertheless intends to continue to be a partner of Croatia in its efforts to meet EU membership criteria.
His comments are in response to an announcement that Croatia has referred the case in which it seeks millions of euros in compensation from Slovenia for over a year of undelivered electricity from NEK to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in Washington.
Croatian grid operator HEP filed for an arbitration procedure in early November at the ICSID over electricity that it says Slovenia failed to deliver from the jointly-owned NEK after the two countries signed an agreement on the plant in 2002. Meanwhile, Vizjak pointed out that Croatia has still not met its obligations stemming from the agreement as it has not established a NEK decommissioning fund.
He reiterated his view that the two countries should solve the issue in bilateral talks.
Explaining its decision to seek arbitration, the Croatian Economics Ministry claimed in a press release on Monday, 14 November that the Slovenian "showed no interest in compensating HEP for the damage incurred".
Croatia had sent two offers to Slovenia for the amicable settlement of the issue, but the first offer was rejected and there was no reply for the second, the ministry said.
"Arbitration does not exclude the possibility for an agreement but only confirms HEP's intent to obtain compensation," it added.
Source: Slovene Press Agency STA
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