Adoption of the Restructuring Plan is the only way to save the "Dr. Simo Milošević" Institute in Igalo, the Government announced.
They spoke about yesterday's statements of the Institute's minority shareholder and co-owner of HTP Villa Oliva Žarko Rakčević.
They say that it is "extremely malicious" to impute the sale of the Institute to the current Government, since "no Government, until now, has decided to save the Institute".
They said that "the following facts bear witness to this": that the current Government increased the price for FZO patients and provided an additional 4,5 million euros for the Institute; helped the employees of the Institute, through emergency aid through the Trade Union, in one of the most difficult moments since the establishment of the institution; that "it was the first and only one to embark on the strategic and systemic recovery of the Institute", through the Restructuring Plan, which from the aspect of the State Aid Control Act is "the only way to save the Institute from bankruptcy".
They point out that the previous governments did not "invest a single euro" in the Institute, but left debts of more than 20 million euros, neglected facilities and equipment. Such action, they say, led to the Institute constantly being on the verge of bankruptcy or privatization.
In order for the "Dr. Simo Milošević" Institute to be saved from bankruptcy, the Government says, the only way, based on the Law, is for the Institute itself to provide its own contribution of 60 percent in the implementation of the Restructuring Plan, i.e. 40, in addition to the state's share of 42,7 percent. XNUMX million euros on a market basis and without state intervention.
"As stated in the Restructuring Plan, prepared by the Project Team of the University of Montenegro, at this moment the Institute can provide funds only through the sale of buildings, because they are the only property of the Institute".
The government notes that the buildings in question have not been used at full capacity for many years.
"So, as Prime Minister Spajić stated at the press conference held on the occasion of the presentation of the document, the Government did not prepare the Restructuring Plan, but it is the result of four months of work by the Project Team of the University of Montenegro, which consisted of professors from the Faculty of Economics and Civil Engineering, and they state that the Government proposes we consider the sale of the Institute unfounded."
They also note that the previous governments, on five occasions, conducted tender procedures, the last of which was from 2018, when it was planned that the entire state package of the Institute's shares would be sold for only 35 million euros. "We understand the dissatisfaction of Mr. Rakčević due to this failed privatization, but it is not this Government that can be attributed to it."
They study that this Government, "unlike all the others", is ready to invest more than 60 million euros in the Institute, "and the guarantee for this is the funds planned in the Budget already for 2025 in the amount of 32 million euros".
"Minority shareholders are faced with two paths – investing side by side with the state or selling shares to the state. Any other option, as shown by the Restructuring Plan, leads the Institute to bankruptcy, during which the only way to settle obligations would be the sale of assets, bearing in mind debts of 25 million euros," the Government announced.
They emphasize that the sale of part of the property, which is problematic for a minority shareholder with a significant participation, will not be an option, "if the same invests with the state and the Institute".
"On the other hand, recapitalization without the Restructuring Plan as the basis for all state investments, which is proposed by a minority shareholder, would constitute illegal state aid. That is why we call on minority shareholders, who are concerned about the sale of part of the Institute's assets, to invest and contribute together with the state to saving this unique institutions for physical medicine, rehabilitation and rheumatology".
The Government said that the justification and compliance of the Restructuring Plan with the Law on Control of State Aid, i.e. its possible non-compliance, will be shown by the opinion of the only institution invited for this purpose in Montenegro - the Agency for the Protection of Competition.
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