Preparing for privatisation

摘要

Croatia is almost certain to join the EU in 2009, which could herald a period of uncertainty for the country's yards as they adjust to new rules and commercial methods. On the positive side, as the example of Poland has shown, the European Commission clearly does not regard a completed privatisation of shipbuilding as a precondition of membership. Brussels will nevertheless expect competition rules to be met, so the Croatian government internationally tendered the consultancy for the privatisation. The contract was won last year by a consortium led by the German HypoVereinsbank venture HVB Global Shipping.