A legislation blocks the sale of Piraeus Port Authority

The government is in a difficult situation regarding the sale of 67% of Piraeus Port Authority (PPA SA)

According to information of financial section “business stories” of Proto Thema, the problem is that, according to the bid, the concession contract signed between Greek State and PPA should be changed. “This is not an issue of HRADF but an issue of Greek government. They forgot, however, that the concession contract is a law of the State which has been applied since 2008, so the law should be changed. And there is no action yet on behalf of the government” experienced executives dealing with port policy said to “business stories” and added: “If the law is changed, though, this will lead to a change in the establishment law of PPA. The changes are necessary in order an individual will have the chance to do business. At this point, the Council of State will be involved, which has ruled that public areas of the State are not sold.”

Also, it was highlighted that no privatization can work without having an independent authority, according to EU Regulation, and in this case, the an independent port authority. “As far as the PPC issue is concerned, there is a liberation of energy and an independent authority. Port services, though, are the only ones that have not been opened-up,” they stress and added: “No one has answered the question of why a 67% is sold, which is the statutory majority, and not the 51%. Troika asks only the direct sale of 23% of PPA and Thessaloniki Port Authority”.

Political sources said to “business stories” that the issue of PPA is not just a political one, since Piraeus citizens oppose to the sale of PPA creating a bad political climate.