Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic (R) meets with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Zagreb, Croatia, on Dec. 3, 2018. The two-day summit of the Central European Initiative (CEI) started here on Monday. Prime ministers of six European nations and other high representatives came to discuss security issues and economy. (Xinhua/Patrik Macek)
ZAGREB, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- The prime ministers of Hungary and Croatia agreed on Monday that the main problem in the relations between the two countries is the management of the Croatian oil company INA of which Hungary's MOL is the biggest shareholder.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was among the leaders who arrived here on Monday for a two-day summit of the Central European Initiative (CEI) which started here on Monday. Prime ministers of six European nations and other high representatives came to discuss security issues and economy.
In 2003, MOL acquired 25 percent plus one share in INA and it became the largest shareholder of the company in 2008, after raising its stake to 47.16 percent via voluntary public offer.
"Decisions need to be made at the company level," Orban said, adding that if the two sides cannot cooperate in the company, then they have to go separate ways. "In this case, that means that Croatia could buy MOL's shares in the company," said Orban.
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic confirmed on Monday that the government's position has not changed. Croatia still wants to buy MOL shares, but the key issue is to agree on the price.
It was Orban's first visit to Croatia in the last seven years. On Monday, he said that no economic issue could be more important than centuries of common history between two neighboring states. He stressed that he hopes to bring the relations back to the normal.
The CEI is a forum of regional cooperation in central, eastern and southeastern Europe which sums 18 members. As the chair of the CEI this year, Croatia is hosting a meeting where the prime ministers are expected to exchange views on the role of the CEI members in "building security, boosting economy, enabling prosperity".
