EBRD - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is interested in taking part in the privatization of DUNAV Osiguranje (the biggest insurance company in the country), but also in the privatization of Telekom Serbia and Belgrade's Nikola Tesla airport, EBRD Director for Serbia, Matteo PATRONE, announced, quoted by the local media website www.tanjug.rs.

"EBRD's activities will depend on the Serbian government's decision on the future of these public companies," PATRONE said.

The Serbian government is considering the privatization of several "giants" of the economy, including the Serbian electric power company EPS, the Serbian power grid company EMS, Srbijagas or Serbian Railways, but on the long term.

"The EPS, the Serbian power grid company EMS, Srbijagas, Serbian Railways and other public and utility companies are a different group of companies and require the deep restructuring before strategic investors are sought for them," PATRONE stated.

Commenting on the privatization of the Serbian electric power company EPS, announced by the Serbian PM, the EBRD Director said that it is a long-term objective, while in case of the "triplet" Telekom Srbija, Belgrade's Nikola Tesla Airport and DUNAV osiguranje, these companies "can be privatized within a shorter period of time."