The Czech PM has said that the government has to carefully consider the privatization of CEZ. Possible discussions may start after the next elections to be held in June 2006. Please note that earlier discussions also included the partial privatization of CEZ, i.e. the sale of a 17% stake to a strategic partner via capital markets. We do not see any decision regarding CEZ’s privatization to come before 2007.
The Balkan countries are now closer to the EU electricity market. With the EU electricity committee agreement nine countries signed that they are adopting EU rules and integrating into the EU electricity market. The countries include Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Monte Negro, Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo.