The European Commission initiates investigations against Croatia

On Monday, the European Commission opened a detailed study of Croatian state aid for wooden companies to check whether it is illegal help.

The commission opened the investigation after receiving a complaint in which it is claimed that Hrvatske Šume (Hš), a 100% state company and some Croatian wood processing companies, benefited from state help that is incompatible with the internal market, reports Dnevnik. Mr.

The support was allegedly granted so that the Croatian state did not pay the exclusive right to administration and commercially Croatian public forests. It is also examined whether Hš has offered some Croatian wood processing companies wood purchase contracts at non -market prices.

“Based on a preliminary assessment, when it comes to the exclusive right to commercial exploitation of public forests to Hš, the Commission doubts that the lack of payments can be viewed compared to private forest owners in order to compete with the competition, With Hš, has to buy or rent the forest. Also with regard to the non -market prices that some Croatian wood processing companies were offered to be an economic advantage for a selected group of Hš customers, ”explains the Commission.

He points out that the opening of the investigation in no way presents its result and that you gives you interested parties the opportunity to submit your comments.

Hš is a 100% state -owned company and has had the exclusive right since 1990 to manage all public forests in Croatia and use it commercially.