The ministry said that unionists had made "tendentious and incorrect information" about the elaboration of legislation regulating the energy sector in accordance with the European Union standards.
It said that it was incorrect that HEP had been ignored during the preparation of the legislation, and added that as early as the beginning of 2010, HEP representatives had been informed about the need to align national legislation with the the EU's third energy legislative package. During 2010 several meetings were held with HEP managers and several public discussions were organised on future models of the restructuring of energy-related companies, including HEP.
The ministry also denied allegations that the restructuring solutions were being imposed on HEP which would lead to lay-offs and electricity price hikes.
The changes are proposed to enable HEP and other companies to perform their activities in compliance with the rules of the European common energy market and legislation, the ministry said adding that this was a precondition for the safety and security of electricity supply.
With the application of any model of restructuring, HEP remains in Croatian ownership and the government is not thinking at all about privatising any part of the company, the statement says.
Three unions at HEP held a news conference on Tuesday, expressing opposition to what they called was the partitioning and breaking up of HEP, which they believed could happen if current proposals for amending the energy legislation were adopted.